31/10/2026
Understanding labels and knowing the difference between ‘Best Before’ and ‘Use by’ is crucial in wasting less food. If you know this already we love and salute you! If you don’t, here’s a starting point 👇
Best-Before Dates
What it means: The food might start to lose its optimal flavor, texture, or appearance, but it is still safe to eat. The risk: Low to none, as long as the packaging is unopened and stored correctly. You can use your senses (look, smell, taste) to decide if it is still nice to eat.
No, the Haribo has not gone off. If the colours on a Haribo Supermix have run or bled, it simply means the product has been exposed to heat, humidity, or moisture, causing the outer layers to melt slightly and the colors to blend. It is safe to eat.
No, milk chocolate that has turned white has not gone off. The white film or spots are a harmless physical reaction called chocolate bloom. The chocolate has been exposed to heat. Changes in temperature cause the natural cocoa butter to melt, move to the surface, and recrystallize into a pale layer. It is safe to eat.
No, a banana skin with brown spots has not gone off. It is simply ripe or extra-ripe. Why Brown Spots Happen - As a banana ripens, its natural starches convert into simple sugars. Plant enzymes react with oxygen in the air, creating dark marks on the peel. Spotty or brown-skinned bananas are safe to eat, softer in texture, and much sweeter than bright yellow/green ones. They are safe to eat.
Use-by dates
Use-by dates on food labels tell you when the food is no longer safe to eat. They must be shown on foods that go off quickly, such as meat products and ready-to-eat salads.
Eating food after the use-by date could make you ill. The label will tell you how to properly store the food until you want to eat it, including what to do after you open the packaging. For example, if the instructions on the packaging tell you to refrigerate the food after opening it, you should keep it in a fridge at 5°C or below. If you do not store food properly, it could become unsafe to eat before the use-by date.
