Canadians have become more inclined to eat foods that have passed their best before date

Although food price inflation may have eased across Canada, as some food prices remain high, a new report shows that many people continue to eat "high-risk foods" despite the potential risks to their health. .

According to a report by Dalhousie University's Agricultural Food Analysis Laboratory, 58 percent of respondents said that high food prices have caused them to eat foods close to their best-by dates or foods that have passed their best-by dates. Meanwhile, about 37 percent said their drinking habits had not changed.

Among those who said they ate such foods, 23.1 percent said they always did, while 38.6 percent often ate food past its best-before date, and another 30.8 percent said sometimes. They do this. Only 7.5% said that they rarely consume foods with these conditions.

Sylvain Charlebois, MD of the lab, told Global News: “You could say that food inflation has really forced Canadians to change the way they think about food. "This has led Canadians to manage food safety risk at home very differently."

According to experts, unlike the expiration date, the best-before date is more related to the decline in product quality and not to its spoilage. Some foods are safe to eat even after that date, including canned and dry foods, chips, processed meats, and acidic sauces.

One way to determine if foods can be eaten after that date is to use your own senses. If it smells or looks bad, it is better not to use it.

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