Decode food labels to reduce waste

• Indian households waste 68 million tonnes of food annually
• Use-by dates signify safety, while best-before refers to quality
• Check colour and smell to reduce waste of food past best-before dates

Confused by the dates on your food packages? You're not alone. Understanding these labels is a simple way to reduce food waste, save money, and ensure you're eating safely. Here’s a clear guide to what each date really means.

The Scale of Food Waste in India

Before diving into labels, it's important to understand what's at stake. In India, a significant amount of food is wasted annually, with household waste being a major contributor. According to reports, Indian households are estimated to generate around 50 kilograms of food waste per person each year. This adds up to a staggering national total of over 68 million tonnes. Much of this waste happens due to confusion over date labels, leading people to discard perfectly good food. Learning to interpret these dates correctly is a powerful step towards a more sustainable kitchen.

‘Use-By’ or ‘Expiry’ — A Strict Safety Rule

The 'Use-By' or 'Expiry' date is the most critical one to follow. This date is about safety. According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), it signifies the end of the period after which the product is no longer considered safe to eat and should not be sold or consumed. Consuming food past its 'Use-By' or 'Expiry' date can pose health risks due to the potential growth of harmful bacteria. This label is typically found on highly perishable items that can spoil quickly, such as milk, yogurt, packaged meats, and infant formula. You should never consume food after this date has passed.

‘Best-Before’ — A Guide to Quality

The 'Best-Before' date, as defined by FSSAI, is about a product's quality, not its safety. It indicates the date until which the food will retain its peak flavour, texture, and nutritional value, provided it is stored correctly. After this date, the food may lose some of its freshness or taste, but it is often still perfectly safe to eat. This label is common on items with a longer shelf life like biscuits, cereals, canned goods, and spices. FSSAI clarifies that the food may still be safe to consume after the 'Best-Before' date, but its quality might have diminished. So, if that packet of chips is a week past its 'Best-Before' date, it might just be less crispy.

‘Date of Manufacture’ or ‘Packed-On’ — The Starting Point

The 'Date of Manufacture' or 'Packed-On' date tells you when a food product was made and packaged. This date doesn't tell you when the food will go bad, but it provides a crucial reference point. It helps you understand the product's age and is used by manufacturers and retailers for tracking. For consumers, it can help in choosing the freshest product off the shelf. FSSAI mandates that this information be clearly provided on pre-packaged foods, allowing you to gauge how long it has been since the item was produced. It works in tandem with the 'Best-Before' or 'Use-By' date to give a complete picture of the product's timeline.

Trust Your Senses: The Ultimate Test

While date labels are important guides, they aren't the only tool at your disposal. For foods past their 'Best-Before' date, your senses are a reliable indicator of whether an item is still good to eat. Before you toss it, perform a simple check. Look for any changes in colour, texture, or signs of mould. Smell the product for any off or sour odours. If it looks and smells fine, it is likely safe to consume. However, this rule does not apply to items past their 'Use-By' or 'Expiry' date; those should be discarded regardless of their appearance or smell. As the common food safety wisdom goes: when in doubt, throw it out.