To be angry about best before dates on veg?

[FusionChefGeoff]

Can I ask you to guess what the date was on this bit of broccoli I am hoping to have for my dinner?

I run a food bank. We receive fruit and veg from all the major supermarkets just past its BB date. It is almost always fine (unless individual items are bruised) and routinely goes another two weeks or more just fine. (M&S and Coop are the longest-lasting typically, if anyone wants anecdata.)

Yanbu OP! I was tempted to start this exact same thread yesterday - so much food must get thrown out because of them.

Last night I used the second half of an open bag of spinach in a curry I was making. The best before date was 16th August. When I washed it not a single bit had gone limp or yellow, it was all fresh and perfect. I think they should be banned on everything except things that will make you ill if you take a chance (ie. meat and fish).

I tried to buy mushrooms at Aldi a few weeks ago. Grabbed first pack as I was rushing, at the conveyor belt I noticed a half price sticker and thought that's a bonus. However as he scanned it, the cashier said 'sorry I can't sell you these, the date is yesterday'. Turns out they get thrown away. They looked lovely as well. I find it quite upsetting to think of the waste caused by dates on food.

YBU for winding us up with your op.

I'm amazed that it's a month past the date. Well done for using it to make something delicious.

It probably was better before the date on the packet - that doesn’t mean it can’t be eaten now however! It’s only if it says use by that you need to worry about it.

Veg is nicest when it’s fresh. Eat old veg if you want to. I’d prefer not to.

But that's the point of best before dates. It would have been better from a taste and quality point of view mid July. Doesn't mean it isn't OK to eat now. With veg what you are using it for matters. I would use that for soup or possibly stir fry etc. I wouldn't use it raw in a salad.

@Unfashionable

YABU.

It’s a best before date, not a use by date. Anyone with more than three brain cells understands the difference and proceeds accordingly.

anyone with three brain cells wouldn't feel the need to be so rude either. Op asked a straight forward question, there is way too much food waste.

I always go off smell and feel.

Bb dates mean NOTHING to me, I tell ya! I've got the constitution of an ox.

Can't remember the last time I was sick and certainly not off food past it's sell by date

@FrankButchersDickieBow

I always go off smell and feel.

Bb dates mean NOTHING to me, I tell ya! I've got the constitution of an ox.

Can't remember the last time I was sick and certainly not off food past it's sell by date

Yes! I wish everyone though like this.

The trouble is too many people are slaves to these dates and throw food away! Most of the older people who grew up without them (and I count myself in this bracket) are a bit more savvy.

This whole thread reminds me of the time an NCT friend of mine and I stopped off at a local shop on the way back from a walk round the park with our babies in prams because she needed to buy some washing up liquid. She was panicked because they only had ordinary Fairy liquid rather than anti-bac Fairy liquid and she didn't think that was good enough for washing her baby's bottles. She was seriously considering walking further afield to search for anti bac. I said to her "what do you think your mother washed your bottles with in the 1960s?". This was a woman with a Masters degree too. The extreme caution over things like this (encouraged by producers/manufacturers) is not good. Layer upon layer of worrying that you haven't got the best or aren't doing the best makes us thoughtless and immensely wasteful and feeds into terrible needless anxiety.

A best before date is not a use by date.
If it looks/smells fine and has a best before date then use it!

You got good fridge @FusionChefGeoff haven't you😂 i sometimes find treasures because I just do quick look through fridge "everything ok, nothing going off" and then discover something had bb date weeks ago😂

Though last few weeks are pretty shit on vwg and fruit and stuff really doesn't last as it used to

@HeddaGarbled

Veg is nicest when it’s fresh. Eat old veg if you want to. I’d prefer not to.

You do know that a lot of veg is stored for months before it gets to the shop don't you? An extra few days is neither here nor there.

@Unfashionable you'd think so - but just yesterday a woman with enough brain cells to afford and operate a smart phone was still about to launch a load of veg as it was 'out of date'

@SofaSpuds well it was really technical . I chopped a chilli, put some olive oil and garlic paste in a bowl, added broccoli, chilli and a good amount of salt then tossed until coated. Put in baking tray and drizzle rest of oil on top. Roasted until done - about 15 minutes?!

@SchrodingersImmigrant I think it was because it was in our garage fridge before we went on holiday so didn't even open the door for 2 weeks and after that only very infrequently. I was impressed though!

Whatever floats your boat, must be fascinating to be your friend