Food dates / storage instructions

[MmmBlowholes]

A bag of salad from supermarket A: once opened, consume within 24 hours. Supermarket B: consume within 2 days.

Greek yoghurt: one tub says consume within 3 days, another brand says 5 days.

Is there any wonder so much food goes to waste?

Are these dates accurate? Have they been tested? Have they been in existence for a really long time? Should they be updated for modern fridges?

AIBU to wish there was some sort of consistency? Or, even better, removal of these silly instructions?

I just ignore them.

Unfortunately they have to have the instructions for people that have the inability to use their eyes, sense of smell or taste to work out if something has gone off . My dd eats yogurts that are a few weeks out of date, I check them first but if it tastes ok then she has it.

There can't be a consistency in dates as each is processed differently.

Unfortunately they have to have the instructions for people that have the inability to use their eyes, sense of smell or taste to work out if something has gone off .

Yup. I knew someone who threw everything out once it reached best before date... Best before!

I spent a lovely year eating for nothing by ferreting out from the bin my richer flatmate's M&S ready meals which he always chucked out on the date on the package.

Does it look ok?
Does it smell ok?
If yes then I would eat it regardless of BB date.

I think manufacturers have a responsibility to do something about these dates now that we're trying to reduce waste. I wonder how close to actual "expiration" the dates are - I.e. when would a product actually be dangerous to eat compared to the date on the label.

I think people should stop being stupid tbh.
No manufacturer is going to risk putting longer dates so they get sued by someone because "it smelled funny, but the date was still days away"🤷