the-BA : How long will it keep?

Besides the cooker, what is the most essential kitchen appliance? I vote for the fridge. It keeps food ‘fresh’ for longer, though still only for days, not weeks. Check ‘Use by’ dates. Un-opened bottles and cans keep longer, but there’s a limit. Check the ‘Best before’ dates. Eating food that’s gone off can be dangerous, so “If in doubt, throw it out”. However, take notice of the labels and you shouldn’t need to throw food away. Waste not, want not!

Have you ever wondered how these label dates are decided?

You might like to …

• list the types of foods that have ‘Use by’ or ‘Best before’ dates; find out the difference in meaning between these two types of labelling; also find out the significance of ‘Display until’ dates
• undertake a survey to see which types of food have the longest shelf-lives, and which the shortest; suggest why
• test some short-life foods to determine how quickly they ‘go off’ under various storage conditions; compare your results with manufacturers’ use-by-dates; suggest reasons for any significant differences (note: taste tests are not a suitable method for checking foods that may have gone off)
• follow up ideas in the Health and Hygiene section of this CREST Awards site, about food storage and transport; click on Germs we live with, then Keeping cool and Keeping fresh.

Further links:
http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/foodlabels/

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