Best before date or expiry date?
Did you know that a third of all food produced is thrown away, and that nearly 800 million people go hungry every day? It's an equation that doesn't quite add up. There are some things we humans need to realize and get better at. A simple step is to learn the difference between the terms "best-before date" and "use-by date". Today, 1 in 5 Swedes throw away fine food because they don't know the difference between the words.
It doesn't take a complete change in lifestyle or much effort to stop throwing away more food. According to the Swedish Food Agency's website, the 'best before date' means that the product has the same quality as at the time of manufacture until the date has passed, but there is no danger of eating the food afterwards.
We at Deligate want to share 3 tips to consider before throwing out your food from the fridge. Remember, we can all contribute to a greener Earth!
- Smell your product. Do you notice anything different or does it smell normal?
- Look at your food. Do you see anything strange about your food? In fact, after the expiry date has passed, food can last for weeks, months and even years.
- The third tip is to taste what you are going to throw away. As long as it doesn't taste strange, it's okay to eat the food. There may be a change in chewing resistance, color or texture, but you won't know until you try!
To be clear, after the "best before date" you have the opportunity to check your food before throwing it away. However, goods marked with "best before date" should not be eaten after the expiry date, as the health risk has increased. This applies specifically to foods such as vacuum-packed ready meals, minced meat, fresh fish, sausages and chicken. At Deligate, we want to see change at home and in stores, and we hope you'll join us on that journey!
Written by, Kajsa Jerlström (2019-02-04)
