To avoid food poisoning but also waste – a concept that is gaining popularity in France – it is important to know the acronyms and characteristics of food products.
- “The expiry date” is the date from which a product is considered expired but it is a notion that can be misleading because it can correspond to the DLC or the DDM.
- The DLC for “Usage Limit Date” is a date that must be respected because beyond that, the product can become dangerous for health.
- The MDD for “Best Before Date” is a best before date for foods that can be safely eaten after the date, as long as the packaging has remained intact.
“Sell-by date” is a vast and little-known concept that can be misleading: in France, little is known about the different types of shelf life and it is estimated that this lack of knowledge is responsible for 20% of household food waste.
Consumer product education and awareness
Signs, such as Carrefour, Auchan, Leclerc or Intermarché have chosen to fight against food waste by removing the expiry dates on sugar, vinegar or oils. They signed an agreement foreducate and raise awareness internally and externally on consumption dates”.
Knowing the acronyms that must appear on most consumer products is essential to know which foods can be eaten without endangering your health but also without wasting foods that are still edible after the date indicated.
“Pre-packaged food products bear a statement indicating the expiry date (DLC) or the date of minimum durability (DDM).)”, said the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The DLC is imperative for certain very perishable foods
“The DLC indicates an imperative limit. It applies to foodstuffs which are microbiologically very perishable and which, as a result, are likely, after a short period, to present an immediate danger to human health.”
It concerns ready meals, fresh meats or refrigerated ready meals, fish, seafood, fresh fruit juices. Dairy products also have BBDs (especially cream or egg desserts), but “plain” yogurts are an exception. Indeed, after the DLC, they can be kept in the refrigerator for a week or two because they constitute an acid medium in which pathogenic bacteria cannot develop. However, watch out for signs of spoilage: if the yogurt is moldy, smells bad or has a bulging lid, then there is no risk of poisoning.
After the DLC, the health risks depend on the expired products, especially if it is meat or fish. Food poisoning is then the most common risk and can cause nausea, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea or fever.
Low perishable products have an MDD
The Date of Minimum Durability (MDD) or “to consume preferably before…” is a recommended use-by date for non-perishable products, even after opening (such as fruit compotes, stored in the refrigerator). Displayed on food products that can be consumed without risk after the date, provided that the packaging is intact, since 2015 it has replaced the DLUO mention (Date Limite d’Usage Optimale).
Exceeding the MDD poses no health risk if a check is done, such as making sure the box is not rusty or bulging, which would indicate the presence of bacteria. In general, we mainly observe a loss of quality, in flavor or in texture, on products such as coffee and biscuits, but which is in no way dangerous to health.
