use it up Tag

Are you a youth or educator and ready to take action to help prevent food waste and save the planet? We have a fun, inspiring, action kit to get you started to take simple actions in your community! LFHW Canada is

[vc_row][vc_column][edgtf_section_title position="" text_font_weight="" text="The good news for even occasional bakers is that many ingredients have a long shelf life and are fine to use even after the best before date – flours, sugars, raising agents, flavourings, syrup, and all sorts

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Canning reduces food waste and allows you to enjoy summer flavours all year round. When selecting produce to preserve, choose ripe, high quality fruits and vegetables. In canning, food is preserved by slowing down its natural decomposition. Home canning can

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Find delicious recipes for using up extra ingredients and leftovers, from overripe berry streusel cake to a “fridge harvest” frittata.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_masonry_grid post_type="post" max_items="-1" element_width="3" item="11952" grid_id="vc_gid:1525878912744-9167b514-6106-5" taxonomies="218"][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Conservation doesn’t come naturally for many of us — especially when it comes to food. For new parents, this becomes readily obvious as they have to beg and bribe their kids to finish a meal. But it's also a chance to

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Don’t give up on that droopy celery just yet. Often a quick fix in the kitchen can transform would-be throwaways into healthy, hearty meals. Yes, even if it’s a bit stale, burned, or questionably seasoned. So, before throwing it in your green

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]

The truth about best before dates

According to research conducted by Second Harvest, 23% of avoidable food waste in Canada is caused by the misuse and misunderstanding of best before dates. Do you need to be throwing away perfectly good food? We know that the date labels can be a bit confusing. This guide will help you make sense of them and, as a result, save your food from being thrown away while it’s still perfectly edible.  You’ll be surprised by how much this could save you on your shopping bill by helping you get the greatest value from your food that you buy.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][edgtf_tabs type="vertical" skin=""][edgtf_tabs_item tab_title="BEST BEFORE DATE"][vc_column_text]

‘Best before’ dates refer to quality: your food will be at its peak freshness, taste and nutritional value before the best before date if packaging is intact and stored correctly.

Best before dates and expiration dates are not the same:

• Best before dates are about how long an unopened product will keep its freshness, taste and nutritional value
• Expiration dates are about food safety

  Best before dates apply to unopened products only. They do not guarantee product safety; however, they do give you information about the freshness and potential shelf life of the unopened foods. Once opened, the food's shelf life may change. After this date, it might not be at its best. Freshness, taste or texture may be different, but is most likely safe to eat.  

How to read a best before date

Best Before dates in Canada are always written in the same format: Year/Month/Day   (If year is not needed for clarity, the date will be written as Month, Day.)   Here is a list of the abbreviations by month:

• JA: January
• FE: February
• MR: March
• AL: April
• MA: May
• JN: June
• JL: July
• AU: August
• SE: September
• OC: October
• NO: November
• DE: December

Learn more about best before dates from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

• How to check it out before you chuck it out
• Read what’s the tea on best-before dates: 6 ways they help you at home and while shopping
• Discover three facts about best before dates that can save you money

What you may begin to notice

The more familiar you get with the different labels, the more your confidence around food will grow. You’ll soon get used to inspecting the food with best before labels rather than relying on just the date on the label. Over time, you’ll begin to realize just how much more edible food is being eaten and saved from the garbage.[/vc_column_text][/edgtf_tabs_item][edgtf_tabs_item tab_title="EXPIRATION DATE"][vc_column_text]

‘Expiration Dates’ refer to nutritional specifications: you must not eat food past the expiry date.

Expiration dates are required only on certain foods that have strict compositional and nutritional specifications which might not be met after the expiration date.   There are only five types of food in Canada that should contain expiration dates. They are:

• formulated liquid diets (nutritionally complete diets for people using oral or tube feeding methods)
• foods represented for use in a very low-energy diet (foods sold only by a pharmacist and only with a written order from a physician)
• meal replacements (formulated food that, by itself, can replace one or more daily meals)
• nutritional supplements (food sold or represented as a supplement to a diet that may be inadequate in energy and essential nutrients)
• human milk substitutes (infant formula)

These specific five food types are the only foods that should be discarded when the date displayed on its packaging has passed.[/vc_column_text][/edgtf_tabs_item][edgtf_tabs_item tab_title="OTHER LABELS"][vc_column_text]

Not all foods will have a ‘best before’ or ‘expiry date’.

• 'Packaged on' dates are used for foods packaged by a retailer with a shelf life of 90 days or less. They must be paired with durable life information—either a ‘best before’ date or the number of days the product will stay fresh. Together, these will help you understand how long an unopened product will maintain its quality. This label is often found in the deli, bakery or meat counter where a store is likely to package their own food.
• 'Use by' can only be used in place of 'best before' for prepackaged fresh yeast. It must be presented in the same form and manner as the 'best before' date.
• 'Sell By', 'Prepared On', 'Freeze By' or 'Manufactured On' are other voluntary date labels that may be applied to food products as long as they are not misleading and meet appropriate requirements.

Learn more about other date labels on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.[/vc_column_text][/edgtf_tabs_item][edgtf_tabs_item tab_title="IMPACT OF LABEL CONFUSION"][vc_column_text]

Throwing away food because of best before dates contributes to Canada's food waste problem.

23% of avoidable food waste in Canada is caused by the misuse and misunderstanding of best before dates. 

Wasted food = wasted money

The average Canadian household wastes $1,300 worth of food every year. Learning how to properly interpret best before dates can help you save food and money. 

Reducing food waste helps the environment

When food is wasted, so are the resources used to grow, transport, and store it. Keeping food out of landfills helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.   By understanding best before dates, you can save money, reduce waste, and protect the environment.[/vc_column_text][/edgtf_tabs_item][edgtf_tabs_item tab_title="HOW TO STORE FOOD PROPERLY TO EXTEND ITS LIFE"][vc_column_text]

Storing food properly will help it last longer.

Foods that are likely to spoil should be properly stored, and they should be eaten as quickly as possible. Harmful micro-organisms that lead to foodborne illness can grow in foods, even if they do not appear to be spoiled.    Keep perishable foods refrigerated below 4°C and frozen foods below -18°C. Germs grow rapidly at temperatures between 4°C and 60°C. This is called the "danger zone". Refrigerate or freeze your meat, poultry, and shellfish as soon as you get home from the grocery store and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. Don't keep meat, poultry, fish, dairy or cooked leftovers at room temperature for more than 2 hours.   Storing your food properly in the refrigerator (see fridge storage guide) will help you keep your food fresh for longer.   Refer to Health Canada's Safe Food Storage recommendations for more information.