Mumsnet users talk Best before and Use by Dates with Sainsbury’s

[EllieMumsnet]

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The team at Sainsbury’s would love to hear your thoughts on Best before and Use by dates for food and drinks. Do you know the difference between Best before and Use by dates? And which dates, if any, are you most likely to ignore? What foods are you most likely to bin if they’ve gone beyond their Best before date? And, more importantly, how do you use up food that’s gone beyond its Best before date – please share with us your tips! What food storage ‘rules’ do you tend to follow? And finally, how do you ensure you don’t have to throw away food?

Sainsbury’s says “We know there’s often lots of confusion around Best before and Use by dates, as well as how food should be stored properly to avoid it going to waste. So we want to hear your tips and tricks to avoid food going in the bin unnecessarily.”

Add your comment, tips and views to this thread and you will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will get a £300 Sainsbury’s voucher.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T and Cs apply

I just use common sense really. Things like seafood & meats then it's not worth the risk, but most other things if they look, smell, feel and taste OK then they can usually be kept longer than the best before date.

I completely ignore best before dates. I largely also ignore use by dates and go with my eyes and nose (but wouldn't if there was meat, poultry, etc in the house). I am, however, always quite aware of what food is in the house and pop things in the freezer or make something with it and freeze if I don't think I'll be able to use it before it goes off.

USEBY - will use within a day or so if the meat looks / smells ok, though I tend to freeze if not using within a couple of days of purchase.
I wouldn't risk fish or pre-packed stir fry veg though.

BEST BEFORE - I don't worry though the taste / crunch factor may have lessened over-time.
I freeze bread if approaching best before date.

unless something looks or smells bad, then I will use after best before date. When it comes to soups and casseroles, I use lots of after best before dates on veg. With chicken or pork, im more fussy

Generally, if it looks and smells ok, it generally is. Use by dates I'm a bit cautious with but same rule applies

I’m very careful when it comes to meat use by dates but sometimes you can look and just tell veg and fruit I’m always over the use by date as if their is nothing wrong then why shouldn’t I use it up! We make a lot of stir fry’s and soups with veg etc that is apparently over! But my biggest advise it trust your judgement don’t over buy food so you have to rely on it and don’t panic If it’s a day over!

I do use products after there use by dates, apart from meat and dairy products but that is just my personal preference :)

Generally if it looks ok we'll eat it. We buy a lot on the reduced.

I don't pay as much attention to "Best Before" dates as they are Just a basic guideline and most things are absolutely fine well beyond Best Before but Use By Dates I am a little more cautious of especially if it's Meat products but always trust my nose after all these dates are man made! I use Eggs well beyond the date stamped on them if they look and smell fine then they are fine. I love a reduced bargain aswell so often we have things a day past that stated.

I stick to use by dates as I worry about certain foods, but ignore best before dates and just rely on my own judgement.

I used to be very strict about best before dates but am less so now. I still pay attention to dates on things like meat, fish and dairy but mostly i just go by look and smell to see if something is good. i also try to plan my meals and my shopping so that things get eaten in time.

I stick to best before/use by dates usually by a day or two.. I do check the food though first and notice fruit and veg keeps longer when stored in the fridge.

Best Before is the recommended date
Use by is the Final date

Best to only have one rather than both on the package

I am careful with use by dates especially for meat, fish and dairy. I am not too bothered about sticking to best before dates and tend to use my common sense and if something looks or smells funny then I just bin it!

They are ridiculous- we can all use common sense over whether food is safe to eat. It's an absolute outrage that we throw away so much perfectly fine food when people are starving

I adhere to the use buy dates they are there for a reason but I sure compmapies are being over cautious.

As long as its not something that could make you very ill such as chicken/seafood, then I will use/eat anything as long as it smells, looks and feels fine :)

I use a common sense approach - As taught by my parents!

Take a look, smell the food - A date printed on packaging has no idea of what the food is or how it'll last!

Far too much food is wasted due to supermarkets covering everything in plastics with a barcode and date stamp - Helps the stores stock rotation and profit margins rather than being a food safety guide.

Best before dates - no danger to health so ignore them. Use by dates - I am flexible with fruit and vegetables, e.g. I have had pears that have gone past their use by date before they were even ripe.

I pay attention to Use By dates but with most fresh foods think the look and smell and feel tells if it ok to eat. Best Before dates I generally ignore. They are more of guideline and I prefer common sense.

I tend to stick to near enough the use by date, a day would not matter if its been keep in the right conditions and best before dates I generally ignore as you can see and smell when theses items have gone bad

They are good for guidance, I tend to stick to at or around the date but am not too strict with most items

Dont take much notice of the dates - if it looks and smells Ok, happy to go with it.

I'm less careful with best before dates but I'm a stickler for use by dates. I'm petrified of food poisoning though so I'm super anxious.

I don't really look at best before dates depending on the product. I go by smell and look. Use by dates are different though as these tend to be on products that need to be used by a certain date like meat.