We asked Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Professor and Scientific Director at Dalhousie University, to answer our questions and clarify the difference between date labels used in Canada.   

What is the difference between a best before date and an expiration date? Aren’t they the same thing?  

Dr. Charlebois: “They are not the same thing. Best before dates are used for prepackaged goods. It is essentially a quality indicator. Taste, freshness of a food product, nutritional value, or anything else claimed on the package should be preserved, if the product is properly handled. Best before dates only apply to unopened shelf-stable products and essentially tell a consumer that the food will keep its quality until the listed date. A product can be sold after best before dates, most often at a discount. An expiration date, on the other hand, will indicate when a product should not be sold, bought or consumed. The product should simply be discarded if the expiration date has passed.” 

Are there other types of date labels? 

Dr. Charlebois: “There are a few other types of date labels such as, ‘sell by’, ‘prepared on’, ‘freeze by’ and ‘manufactured on’ dates. These types of date labels are voluntary, meaning that they can be put on a food label so long as they aren’t misleading to consumers and they meet labelling requirements.”  

Are different date labels used on different food products? Who or what decides this? 

Dr. Charlebois: “In compliance with labelling rules, the food manufacturer or the retailer will determine if the product has a best-before date of 90 days or less. Manufacturers may also state terms like ‘use by’ instead of ‘best before.’ They determine this date based on type of product, how it is processed, packaged and stored, and how long the product will keep it’s taste, freshness, nutritional value, or any other qualities if left unopened.” 

“If a food has a greater shelf-life than 90 days, it doesn’t have to be labelled with a best before date or any sort of storage information. These foods are typically canned, or dry – such as pasta – or frozen foods.” 

Who determines how long a food product is healthy for?  

Dr. Charlebois: “The best-before date of food products is not set out in regulations, it is up to the food manufacturer to decide. Although, Health Canada does have regulations relating to the safety and nutritional quality of foods sold in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for inspecting foods and enforcing these rules to ensure that all food sold in Canada are safe.” 

Are foods safe to eat after this date if they still look and smell edible?   

Dr. Charlebois: “Foods past their expiration date are absolutely not safe to eat. Unlike expiration dates, a food product is safe to eat even after the best before date has passed. Best before dates do not indicate food safety. However, the food may lose some of its freshness and even some of its nutritional value and flavour may be lost. Despite all this, consumers should trust their senses. If in doubt, throw it out. Also, with a compromised immune system, you should not take any chances either. The most important risk manager in the entire food chain will always be the consumer. Take proper precautions.”   

What do the different date labels look like so I can spot them while I’m grocery shopping? 

Dr. Charlebois: “The challenge is that the best before date may appear anywhere on the package, so consumers need to look for them. But, the best before date should always appear with the words ‘best before’. The month and day must always appear on the label, but the year doesn’t have to be mentioned, so consumers should be careful. If the year is included, the year must appear first, followed by the month, then the day. The month has to appear in both English and French languages or has to be indicated by a specific symbol that is bilingual. As an example, if the expiration date is April 13th 2019, it would appear on the label as ’19 AL 13’ or ‘AL 13’. 

“Some shelf-stable products like honey or sugars, or canned and dried foods, like I mentioned earlier, may not have a date on the label. There are also certain foods that are excused from the requirement to have a best before label, including prepackaged fresh fruit and vegetables, prepackaged individual portions (such as those served by airlines), prepackaged individual servings sold in vending machines, and prepackaged donuts.” 

“If you want to know anything else about date labelling in Canada you can check out the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website for more information.” 

Packaged foods that have a best before date are safe to eat after that date, although it may have lost some of its flavor or freshness. Foods with an expiration date should not be eaten after the date has passed. Use your senses and when it doubt about the safety of food, throw it out. 

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“As a registered dietitian and former supermarket dietitian, I’ve received many questions about the different dates on food packages. Most people think the various dates refer to when a food will “go bad” or is “spoiled,” but sometimes the dates are simply an indication of quality and not food safety. Clear definitions and guidelines can help people make more informed choices about when to discard food. If you’re not sure if a product should be discarded or not, it’s always a good option to contact the manufacturer with questions about a specific product,” she explained.

Key Terms and Phrases to Know

Open Date uses a calendar date on a food product. The Open Date is not a safety date, instead, this label tells how long to display the product for sale at the store.

Best if Used By (or Before) date is recommended for best flavor or quality. This is not a date to purchase by, nor is it an indication that the product is unsafe after this date.

Use By date is the date recommended to use the product by in order to have the best quality. This date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product. Even after the Use By date, a food should remain safe and wholesome if it has been properly stored and handled. The Use By date is required on infant formula because, over time, formula can separate and clog the bottle’s nipple. Do not use infant formulas or similar medicinal food products such as oral nutritional supplements or meal replacements after its Use By date.

Closed or coded dates are packing numbers for use by the manufacturer.

Packaged on, Manufactured on or Prepared on. Packaging dates are closely related to best before dates and are intended to give consumers an idea of how long a product will maintain it’s quality. These dates are used on food products with a shelf life of 90 days or less.

Sell by or Freeze by dates are other voluntary markings used in Canada specifically, and can help the consumer make decisions about purchasing and storing food.

Canned foods are safe indefinitely except when they are exposed to freezing temperature or temperatures above 90° (32.2°C). A general rule is if the cans are not rusted, dented or swollen, they are safe for consumption; however, the following canned items are best used by the dates outlined below.

• Canned tomatoes –  use within 12-18 months of purchase
• Canned fruit –  use within 12-18 months of purchase
• Canned vegetables – use within 2-5 years of purchase
• Canned meat and fish – use within 2-5 years of purchase

Eggs

Purchase eggs before the Sell By or Expiration (EXP) date on the carton and use within 3-4 weeks of purchase. Refrigerate them in the original carton and store in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not in the door.

Robyn Barefoot, a registered dietitian and expert in reducing food waste, shared these guidelines for meat, fish and poultry:

Meats

Fresh meats such as beef, pork and lamb should be used within 2-4 days and kept refrigerated at 4 °C (40 °F). If it is brought home and placed directly in the freezer, it should be frozen at – 18 °C (0 °F) for up to 8-12 months. Ground meat and fresh seafood are an exception – due to their smaller surface area and increased exposure to oxygen, ground meats and fish such as scallops and shrimp should be kept in the fridge only 1-2 days before consumption and can last in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Fish

Lean and fatty fish (cod, flounder, salmon) should be used within 3-4 days when refrigerated. If freezing fish, lean white fish can be frozen up to 6 months but fatty fish such as salmon and trout only 2 months.

 Poultry

Use poultry within 2-3 days of purchase or freeze for 2-3 months.

“Ever unsure if a food is safe to eat? We know food waste should be kept to minimal, but do not risk your own health and safety. Contact the manufacturer for questions and concerns, and when in doubt, throw it out!” Barefoot advises.

For more information:

•  Food Safety on the Label
• Download a free app from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Is My Food Safe? that features a detailed “Time to Toss?” food storage guide.

Melissa Joy Dobbins MS, RDN, CDE, of Sound Bites, talks about the importance of understanding food labels.

_{“Moldy Bagels” by JyntoJyntomizo is licensed under CC BY 2.0.}

Originally published Nov. 19, 2013.

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Best Food Facts reached out to Fadi Aramouni, Ph.D., professor of food science, Kansas State University, to find out the shelf life of Halloween candy.

“If there are safety concerns with candy, it’s usually a quality issue, not an issue of expiration date,” Dr. Aramouni said.

That’s great news for parents who want to ration out their kids’ candy so they don’t eat it all at once. (It’s also good news for parents who keep a few chocolate bars for themselves – like 72 percent of us do.) The shelf life of candy is affected by the amount of moisture and fat it contains, he explained.

“Generally, it is very difficult for candy to spoil, due to its low moisture content, but it depends on the candy. For things like hard candy and chewing gum, there really isn’t much to worry about,” Dr. Aramouni said.

He recommends following the guidelines from the National Confectioners Association on how long to keep various types of candy.

• Milk and White Chocolate: Eight to ten months
• Dark Chocolate: One to two years if wrapped in foil and stored in a cool, dark and dry place.
• Hard Candy (lollipops and butterscotch candies): Up to one year when stored at room temperature or in cool, dry conditions.
• Candy Corn: About nine months while sealed and approximately three to six months after the package has been opened.
• Jellied candies: Up to one year unopened. After opening, keep in a covered candy dish six to nine months.
• Gum: Six to nine months, as long as the packaging is sealed.
• Caramel: Six to nine months when stored at room temperature and away from the heat and light.

Knowing how long candy lasts is helpful because there are many good reasons to keep back some candy and ration the treats over the next few weeks.

“Candy is full of empty calories, and people need to eat candy in moderation. We are also concerned about the effects of the sugar related to the development of cavities. If people eat one or two pieces of candy per day, it would be OK. But any more than that causes concern,” Dr. Aramouni said.

As a parent and food science expert, Dr. Armouni shares how he handles the candy question with his children.

“My kids are limited to one or two pieces per day. If kids eat too much candy, the sugar will make them feel full, and the glucose level can affect satiety. More than anything, kids need to eat nutritious foods,” he said.

He’ll also be giving candy to trick-or-treaters. “We will be handing out fun-sized chocolate bars – the kind with wafers,” he said.

Halloween candy will keep for many months. To preserve the freshness, store it unopened in a cool dark place, such as a pantry or basement. Just because your kids got a lot of candy doesn’t mean they have to eat it.

“And remember, it is OK to throw away old candy. Don’t feel compelled to eat it – it’s mostly empty calories, after all,” Dr. Aramouni said.

Originally published Oct. 30, 2013

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