The best-before date: For many, the reference “best before” means “definitely lethal” – and so tons of food that is still edible ends up in the garbage. Norway is therefore now introducing a new formulation that is intended to lead consumers to more conscious consumption.
The best before date on food gives consumers an indication of how long a product can be enjoyed. Until this date, the manufacturer guarantees that the quality, taste, and appearance will remain unchanged.
After this date, however, a product does not automatically become inedible. Nevertheless, the expiry date is often combined with the use-by date – this actually states by when food should be consumed – for example in the case of meat products.
This misunderstanding leads to extreme food waste. Norway now wants to counteract this problem with a new best-before date.
New best before a date with the addition
The new expiry date is not actually a new date but a new formulation. The packaging will now say “Best before but not bad after” – several companies in Norway are already using this new formulation on their products.
Throw away less food
This innovation has not yet arrived in Germany, but here too the products should not be automatically thrown away as soon as they have reached their best-before date.
A common-sense check can help here: Is the product still edible? How does it smell, how does it look? A little taste test helps too. A product should definitely still be edible a few days after the best-before date. Also, make sure you store your groceries correctly and shop with foresight.
