Important: The best-before date is not a throw-away date! On the contrary, it is a Quality date and has applied to food in Germany since 1981. The regulation has been in force throughout the EU since 2011. The best-before date is clearly labelled for consumers on almost all foods.
Exceptions apply, for example, to vinegar, table salt, high-proof alcohol (more than 10 per cent by volume), but also to wine, sugar in solid form and chewing gum as well as fresh fruit, vegetables and certain baked goods.
Manufacturers use the best-before date to indicate the date - i.e. how long - until which the respective food retains its product-specific properties. This applies to appearance, odour, taste and consistency. This means that the quality characteristics described above are guaranteed by the manufacturer for the specified storage conditions.
Tins offer a particular advantage due to their long shelf life, usually for years. Tinned goods from Paul M. Müller, such as ADRIA pears or ADRIA tomatoes, have a minimum shelf life of up to 3 years from production.
In most cases, however, the food is still edible even after the best-before date has passed and should not be thrown away straight away. Instead of throwing it away, consumers should first smell and try it, then decide.
On the other hand, there is the use-by date, which must be indicated on perishable foods such as minced meat, poultry meat or raw milk. Important: Such foods with an expired use-by date may no longer be sold and should not be consumed under any circumstances.
