Service Description: What goes into a food can be of vital importance to consumers on particular diets or who have intolerance to certain foods. It is also important that consumers are aware how old perishable foods are, how foods should be prepared and handled. This information must be correctly applied to appropriate foods. Environmental Health staff offer advice, take samples and enforce labelling and composition of foods including drink.
Also known as:- Food Safety
Answer: It is against the law to display or sell food that has gone beyond its ''use-by'' date. This is because ''use-by'' dates are placed on highly perishable foods, such as cooked meat, which could cause food poisoning if consumed after the date code has expired. Less perishable items, such as frozen food, cakes, cereals and canned food carry a ''best before'' date. This code indicates when food is in its best condition. It is not an offence to sell food beyond its ''best before'' date. However, it is against the law to sell food that has deteriorated to the extent that it has become unfit to eat, and this can occur with products that have gone beyond their ''best before'' date.