Best Before Dates

How do they figure it out? Do they experiment on people?

"Here, drink this, it's been sitting around for 6 months, if you get violently ill, we'll know to date the product months earlier".

Re: Best Before Dates

No, it is not a 'Use by Date' it is a date after which the manufacturer thinks the product might not be at its best, ie the flavour, colour, consistency or whatever will start to deteriorate.

Re: Best Before Dates

I'm still wondering how they 'know' when to make the date what it is Of course now after so many decades of experience it comes naturally, but what about in the beginning?

Re: Best Before Dates

There weren't any packaging then.

Re: Best Before Dates

Ok then, when there was packaging.

Re: Best Before Dates

In the old days I would guess, foodstuffs were not around long enough to worry about Use by Dates, and maybe, if you thought something was a bit Iffy, you would give some to your neighbour first, and make note of the result.

Re: Best Before Dates

Just encourages more waste. They have to put a date when the stuff is still fine. I ignore most of them, though, except when shopping I try to get the one which has the latest date as it is likely to be fresher! And I fill my freezer with things that are discounted because they are approaching their date.

Re: Best Before Dates

They have vast testing laboratories AC, where they keep products for various lengths of time in various temperatures etc. Near us they have a place where they test for all the YUM group, if you are there for any reason on a test end day they give all the food that is still good away free ! I used to clean there and came home with masses of KFC and pizza hut and taco bell stuff.

Re: Best Before Dates

I take no notice of 'best before' or even 'use by' dates - I trust my nose to tell me whether things are alright or not to eat. I've had packaged cold me in my fridge for weeks after the 'use by' date, there was nothing wrong with it and I'm still here (without any food poisoning) to say so.

Re: Best Before Dates

Tinned food never used to have use by dates on. Nowadays it does but I'm sure it could be used years after the date and still be OK.