Understanding the Date Labels on Your Food
“Most people confuse the terms “expiry date” and “best before date.” This confusion continues to be a major source of avoidable food waste in Canada. Only five foods should not be consumed past the expiry date: infant formula, meal replacements, formulated liquid diets (medical), very low-energy foods (medical), and nutritional supplements. Everything else is edible after the best before date has passed. Always use your senses to evaluate food quality if food is past the best before date” (Second Harvest–Consumer Best Before Timetable)– SOURCES: CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY (CFIA) AND TORONTO PUBLIC HEALTH
Comments (2)
No food should be given after the best before date to be eaten. That will eliminate possible sickness.
Good day Derrick. Thanks for your feedback. Foods that have passed the Best Before Date (BBD) do not necessarily make people sick. If they are stored properly, they can be safe for consumption. BBD is an indication of freshness. There is a huge difference between the Expiry Date and the Best Before Date. There is public awareness now to help the general public understand the difference. Second Harvest is the largest food rescue organization in Canada and they operate by the standards we send out (APC Food Hub abides by these best practices as well). Most, if not all food banks in Canada operate by these same guidelines. At APC Food Hub we operate with the highest standards of food safety, as we want to ensure that the clients we serve are receiving food that is safe for consumption. For additional information please visit Canadian Food Inspection Agency: https://inspection.canada.ca/en/food-labels/labelling/consumers/best-dates