The following stores specialise in selling goods that are before, on or just past their “best before” dates:
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Mr. No Jokes Discounted Groceries Factory Shop |
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Salvage Co. Salvaged Goods Factory Shop |
The savings on non-perishable foodstuffs at these stores above are massive and they must be the first point of call on your regular shopping trips.
FOOD WASTAGE
South Africa and all countries worldwide have a massive problem with food wastage. It is estimated that in South Africa alone, +/- 10 million tonnes; +/- R700 billion) of food is wasted very year, this has socio-economic, financial and environmental consequences of massive significance and importance.
Some shops have entered into this market and sell perfectly fine foodstuffs that are either just before their “best before” dates or just past it. Instead of this food ending up in landfill sites or disposed of in some way or another, these foods are passed on to consumers at a massive discount to normal retail prices.
BEST BEFORE DATES
Some discount food stores specialise in selling foods at discounted prices. These foods often have a short time till they reach their printed “best before” dates or are already past their “best before” dates.
Definition as per regulation 146 (1 March 2010) to the foodstuff, cosmetics and disinfectants act 54 of 1972 (as amended):
“Date of minimum durability (“Best Before” or “Best Before End”) means the date which signifies the end of the period under any safe storage conditions during which the product will remain fully marketable and will retain any specific qualities for which tacit or express claims have been made. However, beyond the date the food may still be perfectly satisfactory.
THIS DEFINITION INTERPRETED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN THE MEDIA STATEMENT IT ISSUED ON 9 MARCH 2010
Best Before Date: to be mandatory for non-perishables but no prohibition regarding placed on sale thereof after date has expired in view of it relating only to the optimum freshness, thus. Quality aspects of these products.
EXPLANATION
The “Best Before” date does not provide a health and safety guarantee. The “best before” date provides only a quality guarantee up to that date. Therefore, after that date, the product should still be safe for consumption, unless the container is showing signs of rust, is blown or damaged or has been opened.
EXPIRY DATES
Expiry dates are found on perishable foodstuffs and these dates published on these products must be strictly adhered to. It is illegal to sell food past its expiration date.
The tables below have been sourced from https://www.cmu.edu/student-affairs/resources/cmu-pantry/shelf-life.pdf and contain very useful information.
