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Best Before Date meaning is different from Use By Date. So, understanding the distinction between Best Before and the Use By Date is more than just deciphering labels. It’s about ensuring your comfort and safety before using or consuming certain products.
Furthermore, it is also important for businesses or manufacturers to know how to decide if a product requires a Best Before or a Use By Date. To understand it in detail, let’s delve into this article.
The Explanation of Use By and Best Before Dates
Both the Use By Date and Best Before Date are commonly found on products like foods and beverages, medicines, and cosmetics. Here are the details of Use By Date and Best Before Date meaning:
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Use By Dates
The Use By Dates are pivotal indicators of a food product’s safety and freshness. When you spot that date on the packaging, it’s not just a suggestion. It’s a crucial piece of information you should never overlook.
These dates primarily appear on high-risk items that demand refrigeration, such as meat products, fish, pre-prepared meals, and dairy products.
Then, what is the purpose of this label? The answer is simple: Inform consumers about the last date on which the product can be consumed safely.
That’s why ignoring the Use By Date can have serious consequences. After this specified date, even if the food looks and smells fine, harmful bacteria may be present, posing a risk of food poisoning.
It’s like an invisible countdown. Once it hits zero, the safety of the food is compromised. So, regular checks are a must for items labeled with a Use By Date.
If you have products reaching this critical date, either consume them promptly or consider freezing them before the deadline. However, once defrosted, make sure to finish the food within 24 hours.
Moreover, understanding the reliability of Use By Dates is also crucial. Manufacturers set these dates conservatively, intending to ensure consumers consume the product while it’s at its peak quality.
Therefore, while it’s safe to eat food after its Use By Date if it still looks and smells fine, be aware that the flavor and texture might not be as satisfying.
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Best Before Dates
Overall, the Best Before Date meaning holds valuable information about the freshness and quality of the product.
It is an indication provided by food manufacturers to guide consumers on the optimal period during which a product is expected to maintain its best quality, flavor, and texture.
So, the primary purpose of a Best Before Date is to assure consumers of the quality of the product. Whether it’s canned goods, dried items, or frozen foods, this date serves as a reference for the peak taste and appearance of the item.
However, it is important to note that the Best Before Date meaning is not a safety indicator. Unlike Use By Dates, which emphasize safety, Best Before Dates do not have strict deadlines.
This means that consuming a product after its Best Before Date won’t necessarily harm you, but there might be a decline in the sensory experience – taste, texture, and overall enjoyment.
Furthermore, the longevity of Best Before Dates varies between different food items. For instance, dry pasta may have a longer Best Before Date compared to fresh produce like fruits or vegetables. So, the accuracy relies on proper storage.
How to Decide a Product Requires a ‘Best Before’ or ‘Use By’ Date?
After you understand both the Use By and Best Before Date meaning, deciding whether a product needs a Best-before or Use By date is a crucial aspect of food safety and quality management. Overall, the process involves a careful consideration of various factors, such as:
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Responsible Party
The responsible person or party who should decide on a certain product’s label may vary according to the regulation.
For example, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the responsibility for this decision falls on the shoulders of the food business operator, typically the manufacturer or producer, who attaches a label to the food product.
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HACCP Principles
Then, the decision-making process begins during the development of the food safety management system, guided by HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) principles, for the specific product.
It is a critical phase where the characteristics of the food item, storage conditions, and potential health risks are thoroughly evaluated. According to the FDA, these 7 HACCP principles include:
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Conduct Hazard Analysis
Identify and evaluate potential hazards associated with food production and distribution.
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Determine Critical Control Points (CCPs)
Identify the points in the production process where control measures can be applied to prevent, eliminate, or minimize hazards to an acceptable level.
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Establish the Critical Limits
Define measurable criteria for each CCP to ensure control is maintained at these identified points.
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Monitor CCPs
Implement procedures to consistently observe and measure CCPs during production, ensuring they adhere to critical limits.
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Establish Corrective Actions
Develop and implement actions to address deviations from established critical limits as monitoring indicates. These corrective actions are designed to restore control of the process.
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Verification
Regularly assess the functionality of the HACCP system, confirming its proper operation. This includes reviewing monitoring records, conducting audits periodically, and reassessing hazards.
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Documentation and Record Keeping
Maintain comprehensive records of the HACCP plan, from the hazard analysis to verification.
After implementing these principles, the food manufacturers can identify whether a product needs the date labeling or not, according to both the Use By and Best Before Date meaning.
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Documentation
In this process, it is also strongly recommended that the food manufacturer document the decision-making journey.
This documentation ensures transparency and traceability in determining whether a ‘Best Before’ or ‘Use By’ date is more fitting for the product.
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Responsibilities of Food Business Operators (FBOs)
Any modifications to the information, such as changes to ‘Best Before’ or ‘Use By’ dates, must be made with utmost care since as mentioned before, the Best Before Date meaning is different from the Use By Date.
So, the changes should not mislead the final consumer or compromise the level of consumer protection.
For example, in Europe, for food business operators receiving bulk food products that undergo repackaging, the responsibility lies in ensuring the accuracy of information, including shelf-life. It is regulated under Article 8 of Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011.
Because of the distinction between the Use By Date and Best Before Date meaning, assigning a suitable label requires a thorough understanding of the product’s characteristics and potential risks. Then, for your marking or labeling process, just visit Markcom Global for finding the best marking tool for your business.
Read About: Does Wine Expire and Become More Alcoholic? Here’s The Truth
References
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/food-use-by-and-best-before-dates
https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/use-by-best-before-dates-difference/
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