The Truth About “Best Before” Dates: Don’t Throw Away Food Too Soon!

When buying food at the supermarket, we usually perform the automatic action of checking the date printed on the packaging. And that’s where the confusion begins. Even though it seems simple, we don’t always understand what it really means. Expiration dates and best before dates are two very different categories. And no, they are not the same. Las fechas de caducidad y las de consumo preferente son dos categorías distintas. Y no, no son iguales.

La The expiration date appears on very delicate foods, the kind that don’t forgive, like meat, fish, or fresh dairy. This date is the safety limit. After that day, it’s best not to risk it, because the food would no longer be safe to eat. The product may look normal, but eating it could harm your health.

Best before dates, on the other hand, don’t refer to safety but to quality. They mean that after that date, maybe the yogurt won’t taste as fresh, the bread might lose its fluffiness, or the cookies could be less crunchy. But the food is still safe to eat if it has been properly stored.

The problem is that many people confuse the two dates… and end up throwing away food that is still perfectly edible. That doesn’t just mean wasting money, it also means wasting resources, energy, and the effort of those who produced it.

Now, the big question is: how long can foods still be consumed after that best before date?

• Up to 15 days:: yogurt, sliced bread.
• Up to 1 month:: pastries without filling, sliced cured cold cuts.
• Up to 3 months: packaged sauces, UHT drinks, cookies, cereals, nougat, filled chocolate, cured meats, oil, butter, chips, hard cheeses, frozen foods.
• Up to 1 year: coffee, tea, spices, legumes, pasta, rice, flour, canned or jarred goods, honey, chocolate bars, mineral water.

Of course, certain conditions must be met: the packaging must be unopened, the cold chain must be respected for products that require it, and above all, the food should look, smell, and taste fine.

This is about a small gesture: taking a careful look before throwing something away can make a huge difference.

Every year in Europe, tons of food are wasted, often due to a simple misunderstanding of labels. In the end, learning to distinguish these dates is an easy way to save money and, at the same time, take care of the planet.

Every time we throw away food “just in case,” we are also throwing away liters of water, hours of labor, and natural resources. Learning to read these dates is an act of responsibility… and a gift to our wallet.

Remember: “best before” does not mean expired—it only means the product may have lost a little quality.Don’t waste what can still be enjoyed.