Did you know there is a difference between a “best before” date and an “expiry” date found on food packaging?

Best before dates refer to quality, not safety of food. Expiry dates refer to quality and safety of food. This means that food is often safe to eat after the best before date has passed. It is important to examine food before eating it to make sure it is safe.

Do not eat any food that:

• Has mold or looks different than normal.
• Smells or tastes bad.
• Has not been stored properly.
• Is from a swollen or dented can.
• Is from a container on which the vacuum seal has been broken (for example, you open a jar and it doesn’t ‘pop’).

There may not be an expiry date on canned or frozen vegetables and fruits.

Frozen vegetables and fruits are safe to eat indefinitely (as long as they have been kept frozen), but the quality of the food may be reduced once the best before date has passed.

Canned tomatoes or fruit that are high in acid should be used within 18 months. Canned products are low in acid such as vegetables have a self-life of 2 to 5 years. For more information please visit: Everything You Need to Know About the Food Safety of Canned Foods.

Check out this resource on Best Before versus Expiry Dates from the Government of Nunavut to find out more.

For more food safety tips for at home and at the grocery store, visit: Food safety tips – interactive guide (canada.ca).

For more general food safety information, please visit: Food Safety Information – Health and Community Services (gov.nl.ca).