Status: 24.10.2023, 18:30 p.m.
By: Clara Kistner
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Numerous foods can be eaten without hesitation, even beyond their expiration date. Will certain products be sold without labeling in the future?
About eleven million tons of food end up in the garbage in Germany every year, according to a survey by the Federal Statistical Office from last year (2022). Calculated down, a German produces an average of 78 kilograms of food waste per year. According to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), private households account for the majority of food waste in Germany, at 59 percent. Can the abolition of the best-before date of certain products change the figures?
Honey, tea and rice – which foods should not have an expiration date in the future
Many people immediately throw food that has passed the printed best-before date (BBD) in the garbage. In addition to perishable animal products, foods such as pasta, rice, honey and tea do not immediately go bad if the expiration date is already some time ago. "We need a binding list of exceptions for certain non-perishable products," says Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir.
Goods with a timely best-before date are often sold at a reduced price in the supermarket. (Symbolic image) © Manfred Segerer/Imago
With his proposal, the politician of the Greens appeals to the EU Commission. In his opinion, binding regulations should be made in this regard in order to reduce food waste across Europe. According to the Tagesschau, Özdemir feels that the current regulation regarding the expiry date of long-life foods is "completely meaningless".
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That's how long food can actually be eaten after the best-before date has expired
According to the consumer advice centre, the best-before date only indicates up to what point in time the manufacturer guarantees the consumer the specific properties of the product, such as smell, taste and nutritional value. Even after the expiry of the best-before date, the product may continue to be sold. "With sealed packaging and proper storage, the food can often still be enjoyed without hesitation after the best-before date has passed," reports the consumer advice center on its website. The use-by date then indicates the last day on which the food may be sold and consumed.
On the occasion of World Food Day, an Instagram post by ZDFinfo drew attention to the issue of best-before dates and the associated food waste. Accordingly, rice and noodles can still be consumed without hesitation even years after the expiry of the best-before date. Frozen meals also last for months to years, according to ZDFinfo. Milk, on the other hand, should also be used up after a few days after "expiration". However, other dairy products, such as unopened yoghurt and quark, remain fresh for days to months. You can also use vinegar and oil for several months after the best-before date.