Expiry Date
Introduction
The dates on food labels can be confusing. The truth is, they often have nothing to do with food safety. Here's what you really need to know. The date, which is provided voluntarily by the manufacturer, tells you how long the product is likely to remain at its absolute best quality when unopened. After the "use by" or “best” date has passed, you may start to notice gradual changes in the unopened product’s texture, colour, or flavour. But as long as you’ve been storing the unopened item properly, you can generally consume it beyond this date. Your best bet for gauging whether an unopened shelf-stable product with this type of date is still of satisfactory quality is to simply smell and examine it first. Always discard foods that have developed an off odour, flavour or appearance. You can also consult the Keep It or Toss It database for optimal food storage times, for both unopened and opened items. You should buy the product before the sell-by date expires. But you can still store it at home for some time beyond that date, as long as you follow safe storage procedures (check the Keep It or Toss It database for specific foods).
Either way, packing codes help manufacturers and grocers rotate their stock and quickly locate products in the event of a recall. But they are not meant to be interpreted as an indicator of either food safety or quality. Checking the "best before" and "expiry date" labels on foods, from milk and cheese to bread and meats, is one of the first things consumers should do before throwing them in their grocery carts.
Meat and poultry typically have a Sell-By date. You should use or freeze your chicken within one to two days of purchasing and meat within three to five days of purchasing. Freezing your poultry and meat can make these proteins last anywhere from nine to 12 months. When freezing, it is important to make sure your poultry and meat is tightly wrapped in order to prevent it from freezer burn. Freezer burn does
The dates on food labels can be confusing. The truth is, they often have nothing to do with food safety. Here's what you really need to know. The date, which is provided voluntarily by the manufacturer, tells you how long the product is likely to remain at its absolute best quality when unopened. After the "use by" or “best” date has passed, you may start to notice gradual changes in the unopened product’s texture, colour, or flavour. But as long as you’ve been storing the unopened item properly, you can generally consume it beyond this date. Your best bet for gauging whether an unopened shelf-stable product with this type of date is still of satisfactory quality is to simply smell and examine it first. Always discard foods that have developed an off odour, flavour or appearance. You can also consult the Keep It or Toss It database for optimal food storage times, for both unopened and opened items. You should buy the product before the sell-by date expires. But you can still store it at home for some time beyond that date, as long as you follow safe storage procedures (check the Keep It or Toss It database for specific foods).
Either way, packing codes help manufacturers and grocers rotate their stock and quickly locate products in the event of a recall. But they are not meant to be interpreted as an indicator of either food safety or quality. Checking the "best before" and "expiry date" labels on foods, from milk and cheese to bread and meats, is one of the first things consumers should do before throwing them in their grocery carts.
Meat and poultry typically have a Sell-By date. You should use or freeze your chicken within one to two days of purchasing and meat within three to five days of purchasing. Freezing your poultry and meat can make these proteins last anywhere from nine to 12 months. When freezing, it is important to make sure your poultry and meat is tightly wrapped in order to prevent it from freezer burn. Freezer burn does