Do you ever throw away food because it’s past its expiration date? Experts share with NU.nl how you can prevent that. And what about that expiration date?
On average, Dutch people waste 33 kilos of food per person every year. This isn’t peels or cores, but perfectly edible food that isn’t eaten (on time) and ends up in the trash instead.
At the Nutrition Center, they know that the expiration date on things like milk cartons and sauces plays a big role in this. That date applies as long as the packaging hasn’t been opened yet, says Maartje Boot of the Nutrition Center.
The ‘use by’ (TGT) or ‘best before’ (THT) label is mainly found on closed products. “No expiration date is required for fresh products such as bread, vegetables, potatoes and fresh fruit.”
With these foods, you can monitor the quality yourself by looking, smelling and tasting, Boot advises. “Does the product contain lumps, mold or rotten spots, for example? Then it’s better to throw it away.” Just like with a musty and overpowering smell. “If in doubt, taste a little. If it tastes bad, it’s better to throw it away.”
The Difference Between Tgt and THT
The TGT (use by) designation is mainly found on fresh products that spoil quickly and carry a higher health risk if you eat them afterwards. Think of fish or meat products and pre-cut vegetables. This is because bacteria can grow faster in these products.
With a THT date (best before), things are different. There, the date means a quality guarantee. If a product is past its expiration date, that doesn’t immediately mean you can’t eat it safely anymore. However, the quality may have deteriorated. You can notice this in the smell, color and/or taste.
Think Logically Before Throwing Something Away
To combat food waste, it is important to think logically instead of blindly throwing food in the trash, says Elisah Pals of Zero Waste Nederland. She also mentions the importance of using your senses. “And also consider where and how the product has been stored. Often foods can still be used after the best before date.”
Even salt has a best before date, Pals sees. “While salt is a mineral that has existed for millions of years. It really doesn’t expire exactly at the moment it ends up in your kitchen cupboard. That date is on it because it is required to put it on. So also think about that when you ask yourself whether something is really spoiled or not.” This also applies, for example, to dried products such as pasta or herbs or other preserved foods.
If it concerns fresh food with a TGT date, she advises to be careful with it. But you can also prevent waste there, she says. Don’t take the risk of eating potentially spoiled fish. “But if it has to be eaten and you don’t have time to eat it, prepare it before the TGT date has passed,” says Pals. “By heating and preparing it, you give the bacteria and germs less chance to grow further. After that you can still store the meal in the refrigerator or freezer.”
Put Certain Products at the Front of Your Kitchen Cupboard
Also important: don’t consume too much. “Don’t fall for offers of three for the price of one if you don’t have time to eat it all. Ask yourself if you really need everything you buy,” Pals advises. “And organize your kitchen cupboards. By moving products that expire faster to the front, you won’t forget them.”
So it is useful to pay better attention to whether a product is really no longer edible before you simply throw it away. But you shouldn’t wait too long, Boot warns. Because moldy food can lead to food poisoning, she says. “Due to toxins in mold, you can suffer from nausea and diarrhea.”
Boot does not recommend trying to scrub mold off products. “Even if the mold only seems to be on top, it is often already invisibly in the middle of the product. Moldy products are therefore better thrown away. An exception to this is hard cheese. In that case, it is sufficient to cut away the mold generously.