Best Before Date: Food Is Often Still Edible After It Has Expired

In Germany, tons of food end up in the trash every day. Also because many people are misled by the printed best-before date. Read here what it really means and how you should deal with it.

What is the best before date?

When assessing the freshness of food, many consumers use the best-before date, or MHD for short, as a guide. It is found by law on all pre-packaged items and states up to which point in time the content can be consumed without significant compromises in terms of taste and quality and consumption is harmless to health. The prerequisite for this, however, is that the food has been stored correctly. Information such as “Store in a dry place and protect from heat” can therefore be found above the BBD stamp. So, unlike the use-by date on meat products and other perishable products like fish and seafood, the best-before date does not mean that you have to throw away the products after the date has passed. In the vast majority of cases, the shelf life of the food is guaranteed much longer and you can eat it without any problems. For this reason, goods can still be sold after the best before date has expired.

How to determine the best before date and check it

You will find the MHD in the form of a stamp, although this is often difficult to read, especially on cans. The fine print on the packaging will sometimes tell you whether to look for the date on the lid, bottom, or rim of the can. With eggs, the best-before date isn’t hidden in the code on the shell, it’s written on the carton. If you have already thrown them away after putting them in the fridge, a shelf life test will help, as with many foods: Bad eggs float on the surface of a glass with water. With canned food, the cans swell and bulge. Otherwise, just rely on your senses of smell, sight, and taste. Does food smell foul, musty, fermented, or rancid, can mold or fine threads be seen? Has the consistency changed? Also, check that the packaging is intact. Flour can spoil if it is open and bugs can get in. When stored properly, flour can last almost indefinitely.

Rules of thumb for shelf life after the best before date

If you have complied with the principles of correct storage and product-specific specifications, you can use the following estimated values ​​as a guide if you find food with an expired best-before date in the refrigerator and kitchen cupboard. Unopened products are still edible for as long as:

• Yoghurt can be kept for up to two months.
• Beer can be drunk for several months or even years.
• Coffee and cocoa keep for years, tea a few months.
• Vinegar, oil, and spices can be used for months.
• Preserves, jams, and marmalades are good for months or years.
• Rice and noodles can still be used within a few years.
• Frozen meals can still be on the table for several months or years.
• Ham and cold cuts can be eaten for a few days.