sell by dates

[caslass]

I have a bee in my bonnet about sell by dates. On canned products there never use to be a sell by date. My dad ( who died 20 years ago) said canned products last about 25 years. If this is true, why is a sell by date put on in the first place. Do you stick to them? I think older people will remember when dates on cans didn't exist. I would be interested in your views.

[ChuckFickens]

Don't most cans have a "best before" date, not a "sell by" ?

[shaking]

Use by dates means just that.
Best before means they are still eatable after the date.

[Postdog]

"if this is true"

or it may be an old dad's tale.

[joggerjayne]

I stick to them.

I have a bit of a thing about dates on food. I don't hold with the "oh, it will be okay" school of thought.

Why would anyone consume an out-of-date dairy product, for instance !

[caslass]

Some have best before but most just have a date. So is it still safe to eat if the date has expired, and if so how long after this date.

[Jan1957]

I don't take much notice of dates. If it smells ok and tastes ok I'll eat it.

[caslass]

JJ I wasn't talking about dairy produce I was talking of canned food. I wouldn't eat out of date dairy produce.

[puternut]

And the manager of the local Lidls reckons that some food items they sell - made in EU - have the manufactured date on them not the best before/useby date.

CA anyone confirm or deny this please

[caslass]

When the date on the can is in 6-12 months time it cannot be the date of canning. I have never shopped in lidl so I don't know how they date there cans.

[joggerjayne]

Oh, right.

Well, the date on cans is usually years and years ahead.

So, if it's out of date ... it's really old !!

I still wouldn't eat it.

[caslass]

JJ It isn't years away, get a can from you cupboard and have a look.

[joggerjayne]

Well, all my soups and beans are various dates in 2011.

Okay, only a year and a half.

I can't remember the question now.

[ChuckFickens]

My parents kindly offered me some cans of food a couple of years ago, because they would never eat them and it was all stuff they had left at the back off the cupboard from when I was a kid

I politely told them that may tastes have changed since I was 7 they were years past the best before date, so it may be best just to throw them in the bbin!

[suzie1]

BLESS YOUR DAD, MINE DIED 13 YEARS AGO, AND I TRUSTED EVERYTHING HE SAID, AND HE WAS ALWAYS RIGHT. SORRY ABOUT CAPITALS, CAPS LOCK IS STUCK!!

[dothawkes31]

many cans have the production date stamp on them not the sell by date.

[tamborine]

My 'war cabinet' is full of tinned food.....The war will decide whether am poisoned.

[caslass]

I'm off to watch Paradox. See you later

[Barmaid]

I ignore all dates. I work on the basis that if it smells OK or tastes OK it isOk

Bugger me, you have no idea how hlong it tooke meto type that. I am going Christmasshopping at midnight. (Managed to find a friend who was shopping who will take mewiht herand I am sam sheeded).

[tamborine]

Barmaid.........go to bed, you need to sleep it off