MONEYWISE

THIS SIMPLE FACT HAS A LONG SHELF LIFE

Best-before dates are about food freshness, quality and how long they should last unopened, not about food safety. Image credit: NEWS CANADA.

From NEWS CANADA

We’re all feeling the pinch of inflation, with rising prices and interest rates. Here are simple ways you can use best-before dates to save money.

Know the difference between a best-before date and an expiry date.

Did you know that expiration dates and best-before dates are not the same thing? An expiration date is the last day a food is safe to eat.

Expiry dates are required on only a small number of foods, such as infant formula and meal replacements.

Best-before dates are about food freshness, quality and how long they should last unopened, not about food safety.

Taste before you waste. There’s a common misperception that after a package of food has passed its best-before date, it’s no longer safe to eat. Best-before dates indicate when a packaged food will be at its peak in terms of flavour and nutrition. If stored properly, most food is perfectly edible beyond the best-before date on the label. Open the package and give it the “sniff test” or look for mould or other signs of spoilage. Otherwise, using something beyond its best-before date is perfectly fine and can help reduce your food waste.

Keep an eye out for “Enjoy Tonight” sales. Studies show that Canadians love best-before dates, and for good reason. Buying food that is close to or past its best-before date can result in significant savings. For example, if you buy a tub of yogurt the day before the best-before date, your local grocery store may offer you up to 50 per cent off.

More foods include best-before dates than required by Canadian law

Canada exempts fresh produce and requires best-before dates on fewer foods than some other countries. The food industry can still choose to put a best-before date, many do, which often results in sales when the date approaches. So keep an eye out for savings.