By Amanda Laird of Mise En Place

Most of the items in our fridges and pantries come stamped with a best before date.  What exactly do they mean and is it safe to consume products that are past-due?

The Canadian Food and Drug Regulations define durable life dates, commonly known as best before or expiry dates.  There are three types of codes, each with their own specific guidelines for consumption.

Best Before Dates

Packaged foods with a shelf-life of 90 days or less must be stamped with a best before date.  The date is determined by the amount of time, starting on the day a food is packaged, that the unopened food will stay fresh.  Once opened, it is best to use it up as quick as possible.

Packaged On Dates

You may have noticed packaged on dates on meat and other prepared foods available in your grocer.  There may or may not be a use by date on the package as retailers are not required to stamp the product provided there is a chart indicating the shelf-life of the product next to where it is sold.  Check out the meat or deli counters for more information, or ask your butcher.

Expiry Date

While ‘expiry date’ is not a term defined by the Food and Drug Regulations, it is used on fortified foods such as infant formula. 

So can you eat that tub of yogurt that’s best before date was last Tuesday?  The best thing to do is to use your senses – sight and smell – and a little bit of common sense.  When in doubt, it’s always better to throw it out than take your chances.

Still not convinced?  Check out http://www.stilltasty.com/ for information on the shelf life of just about everything!