What is the difference between best-before date and use-by?
A recurring topic is often the difference between the “use by” date and the “best before” date.
What is the best-before date and the use-by date?
The “use by” date specifies the moment up to which a product retains its best properties to be eaten. Ideally, it should be enjoyed before that date, but if we exceed it, it does not mean that the product should be thrown away, but that its properties begin to deteriorate from that moment on. This date is included in medium and long-life products such as preserves and semi-preserves. It should appear on the package together with the preservation and storage conditions.
The “best-before” date marks when a product is no longer suitable for consumption from a sanitary point of view. It is used for products with a very short shelf life and must contain the day and month of expiry. It is forbidden to sell them from the day after the expiry date, and they should not be consumed.
The products have a best-before date, not a use-by date.
The dates printed on our products are “best-before” dates. An unopened product stored in good condition can be safely consumed after this date.
A good way to make sure that a product is in perfect condition is to take into account the following guidelines:
- Throw away any canned product with a swollen can (if a clacking sound is heard when the lid is pressed, the product should be thrown away).
- Throw away any can with leaking contents or perforations.
- Check that the appearance, color and odor are typical of the species and the canned preparation when opening the product. It is also important to hear a popping sound when the lid is opened.
- In the case of jars, check that the jar has not lost its vacuum. To do this, run your finger over the safety button on the lid (central button). The jar has lost the vacuum if it “clicks” when pressed. If this is the case, it is advisable not to eat the product.
