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Are you aware of what Shelf Life is?
Posted on: 11/Sep/2019 3:40:23 PM
Whenever we visit supermarkets and buying food/grocery items, we might have observed over the packings of these items, the terms ‘Best By Date’, ‘Use by date’, ‘open date’ etc are printed - it is better to know the significance of these terms.
Use by Date
The term ‘use by’ signifies that the food item must be used before the date indicated on the print. If used after this marked date, there are possibilities of being affected by food-poisoning, etc. In a similar vein, it is also necessary that the item should be kept in the proper temperature zone as recommended by the printing on the wrapper. Milk, ghee, etc., come under this category. Some wrapping has the print ‘use before date:’!
Open Dating
This ope dating system is printed to facilitate the consumer to know how long it has been kept on that shelf/supermarket! In case the date you see in the ‘open date’ is ‘2 months’, it signifies that this packed item has been ready for sales over the last 2 months. This has no connection with the other term, ‘use by’! In case ther is any connection that will also be printed on the wrapper.
Best Before or Best by Date
This term will be printed generally on the ‘frozen’ items and tinned items. It signifies that it would be best if the item is used before the date printed. However, there may not be any harm if the item is used after the mentioned date. IF the items are dry, they might have gone bad in shape and texture. Tinned items might lose their taste/flavour. This term is printed on the egg-boxes. As regards, egg, as there is a likelihood that the harmful bacteria ‘salmonella’ might be in the egg and spread, it is strongly recommended to use the item before the date mentioned.
Sell by (or) Display Until
Generally, the items on display/sales in the supermarket are arranged that items which expire earlier are kept on the front and the new lot of items with longer expiry period is kept in the back of the shelves!
The main reason for this is that if the fresh stock is kept in front, the old stock with an earlier expiry date may remain unsold and would go waste once expiry date had come.
The terms ‘Sell by’ and ‘Display Until’ are for the convenience/awareness of the sellers! This is only to facilitate the seller to use these items datewise!
So, one need not worry when the ‘Use by’ item is available even after the ‘Sell-by’ date! One can certainly buy and use them.
However, in larger supermarkets, they do not kekeep the products which have crosse the ‘sell-by’ date!
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