Best-before Date
Some estimate that as much as 50% of food is thrown away in the Western world. Some of this is understandable as a lot of us overbuy fruit and vegetables so they go soft or slimy and mouldy in the bottom of the fridge before we remember them. But apparently a lot of us throw away food which is beyond its best-before date because we somehow think that it has become toxic and will do us harm whilst it actually means the quality of the food may deteriorate beyond the date given but still be palatable.
The use of best-before dates was originally meant to help supermarkets restock their shelves but we consumers apparently like looking at these dates and they prompt us to discard food stuffs and buy more rather than use the food up. So perhaps a clever marketing ploy?
Some foods are to be avoided of course as they can become harmful, think raw meat. But others, such as good cheese, are already jam-packed with good bacteria so a bit of extra mould on the outside is possibly a good sign not a reason to throw it out. Just cut the mouldy bit off and tuck in!
Things have gone so far that vinegars have best before dates even though they actually do not go off.
Obviously if something smells “off” you would probably be better off avoiding it; if a soft fruit has gone musty on one side perhaps cut in half and consume the ok half. Mouldy nuts are worth avoiding while some mould on jam might well be still perfectly ok to eat once the offending bit has been removed. As ever people with compromised immune systems need to be a bit more circumspect.
At the community larder we accept food beyond its best-before date from donors as long as the packaging is intact and there are no signs of damage; the food appears to be in good condition and does not smell; and it complies with an agreed extension. For example, UHT milk can go 3 months beyond its best-before date while tinned food can be distributed up to 3 years beyond the date on the tin. So do not be alarmed by best-before dates. They are a guide not a regulation
Of course “use by” dates are a different story! We do not distribute food beyond its use by date.