The Importance of Date-marks, Labelling of Food Products

Importance of Date-marks

Date-marks such as ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ on food labels provide important safety and quality guidelines for consumers.
The ‘use by’ date is the last date a food product is safe to eat. Consuming products after this date can cause food poisoning.
‘Best before’ dates indicate the quality peak of the food product. After this date, food is safe to eat but may not be at its best.
Foods with short shelf lives, like meat, fish and dairy, will often have a ‘use by’ date.
Long shelf life foods like canned or dried foods will instead have a ‘best before’ date.
Legal requirements mandate that food should not be sold, nor used in the kitchen, past its ‘use by’ date.

Labelling of Food Products

The labelling of food products provides valuable information about the food’s ingredients, nutritional value and allergen information.
Labels provide details on food additives or artificial ingredients present within the product.
Nutrition tables on labels include information on energy (calories), fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt content.
Allergen information is highlighted on labels, safeguarding individuals with food allergies, sensitivities or intolerances.
Some labels also provide information on dietary requirements, such as ‘gluten-free’, ‘dairy-free’ or ‘suitable for vegetarians/vegans’.
Labels are used to specify instructions for storage, handling and preparing of food safely to prevent spoilage and contamination.
Geographic origin or the production place of certain raw foods like beef or fruit is also often displayed on food labels.

By understanding these elements, individuals can make informed choices regarding the food they consume, keep track of freshness, and ensure safe food handling to prevent potential illnesses and wastage.