Sometimes the best-by date refers to the packaging instead of the product. Plastic bottles in particular degrade with time and give you a whole bunch of microplastics.
Most booze shouldn’t go bad if properly stored, but exceptions might occur for lighter beverages like beer and coolers.
Aside, I think the best-by date is largely a scam and if it benefits anyone it’s either the manufacturer or grocer. I wonder how much perfectly edible food my family’s thrown away because someone saw a date that made them feel funny
If the product has a shelf life of less than 90 days, it must have either a best before or packed on date with specific rules about how it’s formatted. If it has a shelf life greater than 90 days, the best before date is optional. Also a best before date has no guarantee that the product isn’t spoiled, but also may be perfectly safe to consume well beyond the best before date.
To further muddy the waters, there are actual expiration dates which must be included on very specific products. Mostly medical diets, meal replacements, and infant formula. This means that best before dates are not expiration dates, although most people use the term interchangeably. Indeed, even this article does because alcohol would have a best before date and the article is quoted as saying it’s expiring.
Anyway, apart from actual “expiration dates” which are serious business, best before dates do seem to be largely based on vibes and woo-woo
Edit: And you know what else, this all Canadian regulations. I have no idea how that impacts an imported product. I’m assuming an import has to follow our regulations in order to be sold, but hey, anything goes in business
Low ABV beverages like wine and beer don’t take age well. Some wines can age in the bottle, but most volume is not made with that in mind. Beer has a shorter shelf life than many people realize. Spirits don’t age (well) in the bottle either.
Wut.
Sometimes the best-by date refers to the packaging instead of the product. Plastic bottles in particular degrade with time and give you a whole bunch of microplastics.
Most booze shouldn’t go bad if properly stored, but exceptions might occur for lighter beverages like beer and coolers.
Aside, I think the best-by date is largely a scam and if it benefits anyone it’s either the manufacturer or grocer. I wonder how much perfectly edible food my family’s thrown away because someone saw a date that made them feel funny
Yikes buddy you gotta stop buying booze that comes in plastic bottles 😬
The best buy date isn’t standardized. It’s mostly legal protection bullshit.
Well, it is and it isn’t
Understanding the date labels on your food
If the product has a shelf life of less than 90 days, it must have either a best before or packed on date with specific rules about how it’s formatted. If it has a shelf life greater than 90 days, the best before date is optional. Also a best before date has no guarantee that the product isn’t spoiled, but also may be perfectly safe to consume well beyond the best before date.
To further muddy the waters, there are actual expiration dates which must be included on very specific products. Mostly medical diets, meal replacements, and infant formula. This means that best before dates are not expiration dates, although most people use the term interchangeably. Indeed, even this article does because alcohol would have a best before date and the article is quoted as saying it’s expiring.
Anyway, apart from actual “expiration dates” which are serious business, best before dates do seem to be largely based on vibes and woo-woo
Edit: And you know what else, this all Canadian regulations. I have no idea how that impacts an imported product. I’m assuming an import has to follow our regulations in order to be sold, but hey, anything goes in business
It’s a “best before” date, not a “poison after” date.
It means they won’t guarantee the quality of the product is consumed after that date.
Low ABV beverages like wine and beer don’t take age well. Some wines can age in the bottle, but most volume is not made with that in mind. Beer has a shorter shelf life than many people realize. Spirits don’t age (well) in the bottle either.
It’s not milk, but it’s not a MRE either.
Spirits are fine if they are kept out of light.