The preferred consumption date of the food

What does the best before date of food mean? In the food packaging in the food packaging you can find it as “preferably consume before …” or “preferably consume before the end of or the end of …” We discover what it consists of.

When we buy a certain food product, it is very common that, when we put them in the shopping cart either at the market or in the supermarket, we look at their expiration date, which is the one that indicates the deadline for their consumption, and that informs us about the period of time during which this food can be consumed without posing any type of health risk.

However, it is also possible to find other information about its consumption and that in reality has little to do with its expiration date, but it is an important piece of information because it guides us about its most appropriate consumption date. It is known as the preferred consumption date, which on the food packaging we find as “preferably consume before …” or “preferably consume before the end of or the end of …”

What is the preferred consumption date of a food?

It basically consists of the date that indicates the recommended time for consumption without the food or food product losing organoleptic and nutritional properties. And what are the organoleptic properties of a food? Fundamentally, they are the characteristics related to the appearance, texture and flavor of the food product.

That is, while the expiration date is used above all for perishable or very perishable products after which the product should not be ingested, the preferred consumption date is the time in which the unopened food keeps its properties as long as adequate storage conditions are respected.

This means that, after this date, the quality of the product tends to decrease, but it does not entail or cause health problems as it would happen with the expiration date.

Is it safe to eat food after that date?

Since an expiration date is not being indicated as a limit and a preference date with respect to its consumption is being indicated, food and food products that indicate the preferred consumption date can be consumed after that date without posing a risk to the health.

Of course, as we indicated previously, there would be a loss in its quality and in its nutritional composition.

In what foods is the best-before date or minimum shelf life usually used?

This dating is commonly used in eggs, in dehydrated foods such as purees or soups, in sterilized foods such as milk boxes or cans, or in products and foods that contain little water, be it oils, cereals and legumes.

a certain food product, it is very common that, when we put them in the shopping cart either at the market or in the supermarket, we look at their expiration date, which is the one that indicates the deadline for their consumption, and that informs us about the period of time during which this food can be consumed without posing any type of health risk.

However, it is also possible to find other information about its consumption and that in reality has little to do with its expiration date, but it is an important piece of information because it guides us about its most appropriate consumption date. It is known as the preferred consumption date, which on the food packaging we find as “preferably consume before …” or “preferably consume before the end of or the end of …”

What is the preferred consumption date of a food?

It basically consists of the date that indicates the recommended time for consumption without the food or food product losing organoleptic and nutritional properties. And what are the organoleptic properties of a food? Fundamentally, they are the characteristics related to the appearance, texture and flavor of the food product.

That is, while the expiration date is used above all for perishable or very perishable products after which the product should not be ingested, the preferred consumption date is the time in which the unopened food keeps its properties as long as adequate storage conditions are respected.