Lesson: It Smells OK

Expiration dates and best-before dates on food packaging are confusing and a source of frustration for many consumers. But we have all opened the fridge, noticed that something expired two days previously, sniffed it, said, “It smells OK’ and then consumed it. Expiration dates indicate the date after which the food product may no longer be safe to consume, while best-before dates indicate the date until the product is expected to retain its optimal flavour and quality. However, the distinction between the two is often unclear, leading to confusion about whether it’s safe to consume a product after the best-before date has passed. Confusion results in unnecessary food waste as consumers may discard perfectly safe and edible products based solely on the best-before date. On the other hand, consuming products past their expiration dates can pose health risks. Clearer labelling and consumer education about the differences between expiration and best-before dates could help alleviate this confusion and reduce food waste, ultimately benefiting consumers and the environment.