UBD and BBD : Understanding expiration dates to reduce food waste

Food labeling with mentions such as the Use-By Date (UBD) and the Best-Before Date (BBD) has become essential in our consumption habits. Although these terms are often confused, they play a crucial role in food safety and in the fight against food waste. Understanding these concepts is essential to make informed choices as responsible consumers, while helping to reduce the environmental impact of food waste.

1. Definitions: What are the UBD and the BBD?

The Use-By Date (UBD) is the date indicating up to when a food product is considered safe to eat. After this date, there is a health risk, and it is therefore imperative not to consume a product beyond its use-by date. This type of mention mainly concerns highly perishable foods such as meat, fish, dairy products or ready-made meals. For example, eating yogurt or fish after their use-by date can lead to serious food poisoning.

The Best-Before Date (BBD), is a less strict indication. It specifies that, after this date, the product may lose some of its qualities (such as taste, texture or nutritional value) without necessarily becoming dangerous to health. This applies to non-perishable products such as cereals, biscuits, canned foods or oils. In practice, consuming a product after its best-before date is safe, as long as it has been stored correctly.

2. Differences between the Use-By Date and the Best-Before Date

The main difference between these two dates lies in whether they are mandatory or indicative. The Use-By Date (UBD) is mandatory, meaning that any product consumed after this date may pose a health risk, as it is microbiologically perishable. This includes foods such as meat, fish and dairy products, which can quickly develop dangerous bacteria after the use-by date.

By contrast, the Best-Before Date (BBD) is indicative: this means that after this date, the product can still be safely consumed, but it may have lost some of its qualities, such as texture, flavour or nutritional value. Dry foods such as pasta, rice or canned goods are typically concerned by this mention. It is therefore not necessary to immediately throw products away after the best-before date, a practice that unfortunately contributes to food waste.

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3. Which products carry a Use-By Date or a Best-Before Date?

Products that have a Use-By Date (UBD) are those that present a high risk of bacterial growth or rapid spoilage. This includes meats, fish, milk, fresh cheeses and certain fruits and vegetables with a high water content, such as strawberries or cucumbers. It is essential to strictly respect these dates, as poor handling can lead to health issues such as food poisoning.

On the other hand, products that have a Best-Before Date (BBD) are less sensitive foods, such as canned goods, vegetable oils, pasta and other dry products. These products can be consumed after the best-before date, provided they have been stored under appropriate conditions. For example, a can of beans may still be edible well after the indicated date, without any risk to health.

4. Consequences of consuming food after the expiry date

Consuming a product after its Use-By Date (UBD) can have serious consequences for health. The use-by date guarantees that the product is safe up to a certain date, but beyond that, bacteria such as salmonella, Escherichia coli or listeria can develop. It is therefore essential to respect this date, especially for raw meat, fish and dairy products.

Conversely, consuming a product after the Best-Before Date (BBD) does not pose any immediate danger to health, but consumers may notice a loss of quality: a less pronounced taste, an altered texture or a decrease in nutritional value. It is therefore recommended to check the product visually and by tasting it before deciding to throw it away.

5. Sale of products past their Use-By or Best-Before Date

The sale of products with an expired Use-By Date (UBD) is strictly prohibited in France. This rule is in place to protect public health, given that these products can become dangerous after the indicated date. Retailers are therefore required to remove these items from the shelves as soon as their use-by date is reached.

Conversely, the sale of products past their Best-Before Date (BBD) is allowed, provided that these products are clearly labelled to inform consumers that they are past their minimum durability date. This practice helps to reduce food waste, as these products are often still edible and can be sold at a reduced price, thereby encouraging more responsible consumption.

6. Tips for consumers

To avoid food waste, it is important to adopt stock management practices at home. Here are a few tips:

Identify the wording on the packaging: the use-by date is often preceded by the phrase "use by" followed by the date, while the best-before date is indicated by "best before" followed by the date. These phrases are easy to recognize and help you distinguish products that require particular attention in terms of food safety.

Check the dates on your products regularly and move to the front those that are approaching their use-by or best-before date.

Use freezing to extend the shelf life of certain products such as meat or vegetables.

Do not throw products away immediately after their best-before date: check their appearance, smell and taste before making a decision.

If, despite your efforts, some products can no longer be consumed, consider composting the food to reduce your environmental impact.

7. Food waste and CSR solutions

Food waste is a major issue in France and worldwide, with significant environmental consequences, particularly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions linked to the production and destruction of uneaten food. As a company committed to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), it is crucial to promote initiatives to reduce this waste.

Some practices to adopt:

Encourage responsible consumption by buying only what you need and prioritizing local products.

Use composting to recover value from non-edible food waste.

Donate products that are still edible to charities or food banks before they reach their use-by or best-before date.

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Conclusion

Use-by and best-before dates are two essential indications for managing our foodstuffs. Understanding the difference between these two dates not only helps ensure food safety, but also helps reduce food waste, a major challenge in our society. Adopting responsible practices, such as freezing, composting or donating, makes it possible to optimize the use of every food item while minimizing environmental impact.