Use by dates

[Q2C4]

We have spag bol and spaghetti meatball ready meals with use by dates of 23 & 22 Jan. Would you risk it?
YABU = they will give you food poisoning, don't do it!
YANBU = crack on & enjoy dinner, you'll be fine.

That's probably a bit too much over for me, given they are meat.

I go two days over for meat, longer for things without meat.

If they look and smell ok, I would eat them

I usually don't exceed 3 days but it depends what it is..

I wouldn’t personally when it’s meat - I managed to give my husband , myself and the dog food poisoning from storing lasagne too long

Not a chance.

No that's too far gone I think. I think it will make you ill.

Just me then I ate a pack of mussels that were 3 days past the use by date last week. I must have a strong constitution

This

If it smells ok I’d cook it and then taste a bit - if it tastes ok it’s ok.

Food can harbour harmful bacteria and still look and smell absolutely fine. My microbiologist mate says the average human has no chance of smelling or tasting early levels of the common culprits.

No way would I risk it.

Nope. In the bin.

I may have to reconsider my look/smell policy

Considering they were actually made about a month ago, as long as they've not been opened then they are going to be fine.

I wouldn't. It's not worth getting ill for the sake of a few quid

I’d eat it, depending on where it was in the fridge and heat it a little above the recommended time. In the back of the fridge, fine, in the front where the door is constantly opened, no.

The use by dates are guides not absolutes.

Best before are guides. Use by, are exactly that. I do eat stuff after the best before, but never ignore the use by. I reckon that they're probably conservative through necessity and yes, most risking it will be fine but I've seen two friends have such severe food poisoning (one was hospitalised and tube fed eventually) that I don't risk it.

I suppose it can't be an absolute because nobody's going to hunt you down and force you to comply, but there's an important distinction between use by and best before.

I would.

Not with meat. No.

No I would only consider eating a vegetable dish when it is five days after use by.

Wrong.
Best before dates are guides, printed on products whose quality will deteriorate with age but they wont quickly become harmful

Use by dates are exactly that. Used on fresh products which will grow bacteria that will make you ill. You can easily contract salmonella, listeria and others from food that's looks, smells and tastes fine.

You should never ignore use by dates, and also adhere to the printed instructions to consume within X amount of days once opened.

I was taught it depended on the food, how it was stored, and prepared when I had food safety in school. If it was cooked at a high heat, again, depending on the food, it was safe to eat, even if the quality wasn’t great.