Can You Donate Foods Past Their “Best Before” Date?

Published February 28, 2023

In a previous article, we talked about why donating expired foods is a bad idea. But what we didn’t talk about was that there are different types of food expiration dates.

If you take a quick peek at your pantry, you’ll notice that “expiration dates” are worded differently for different food products. Some bear the words “expiry” or “use by.” While others have “best before” and “sell by” dates instead.

However, not all of these dates indicate food spoilage date. Some are mere suggestions of when the food is best consumed.

So, can you donate foods past their “best before” date?

Yes, you can donate food items even after they’ve passed their best before date. If the label says “best before”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the food will spoil on that date. It just means that the food is best consumed before that date.

What you cannot donate, however, are foods that are past their expiry date or are already spoiled, as they can cause health (and even legal) consequences.

To help you understand which “expired” foods can still be donated, you need to understand how food expiration dates work.

Understanding Food Expiration Dates

Not all foods have a fixed expiration date. Besides, there is no standard or uniform format for food product dating in the US. As such, food manufacturers use different phrases to convey the estimated date by which the food is still good for consumption.

Some of the most commonly used ones are:

1. Best Before

As mentioned, the “best before” date does not indicate when a food can be safely eaten. Instead, it shows when that food product is best consumed. It means that before that date, the food product will have the best texture, color, and flavor.

For instance, if the label says “Best Before: February 15, 2023”, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t eat it after that date. It just means that the food product may not look or taste as good.

This dating phrase is usually found on:

• spices
• canned goods
• cookies
• crackers

Most of these products can still be eaten even months after their best before date. However, if not properly stored or if the packaging has been damaged, it might not be ideal to eat it so long past its best before date.

2. Sell By

Sell-by dates are mostly for sellers rather than consumers. It tells them when to take the product off their shelf. This usually applies to dairy or fresh produce like eggs and salad mixes.

Most foods that are past their sell-by date are still safe for consumption. However, most of these food products have short shelf lives and need to be refrigerated. You should consider these factors if you’re thinking of donating them.

3. Freeze By

As the phrase suggests, a “Freeze By date” shows when the product should be frozen to maintain its highest quality. Obviously, this is applicable to frozen goods like sausages, hams, and the like.

As you know, frozen foods can last for years. So food products that are past their “freeze by” date are still safe to eat as long as they are kept frozen the entire time.

Donating them, however, is a different story. You need to remember that not all charitable organizations have enough resources to store those items. Plus, bringing them from your fridge to the donation site can present logistical challenges.

4. Quality Assurance Date

This phrase is similar to the “best before” date. It means the manufacturer can assure the food item’s quality until this date. After this, the food product may lose its flavor or texture. Though they may still be safe to eat.

Quality assurance dates are usually found on the labels of food items with a long shelf life, such as:

• cereal
• peanut butter
• mayonnaise
• ketchup

5. Expiry Date

The phrases “expires on,” “use by,” or “do not use after” indicate the food’s expiry date. Unlike the phrases listed above, these phrases do not denote a mere loss of quality. They are about safety. It means eating foods that are past these dates may lead to health issues.

Expiry dates are usually applicable for food items like:

• infant formula
• vitamins
• baking powder
• baking soda
• cake mix
• pectin

Using expired baking ingredients and pectin may not necessarily constitute a safety issue. However, your jams and cakes may not taste or look as you want them to.