[Will.]

Originally Posted by MB.

Of course there are Wetherspoonseses in North London. There are loads on that link alone. You only have to walk around a street corner to find one most of the time.

Theres a place called the picture Palace in Chingford which has come on Google Maps.

There aren't any in Winchmore Hill.

[Amy Jade]

There are loads of Wetherspoons in London, there is a massive one in Euston Station

[Jessica.]

I never eat things that are out of date, I've gotten into so many disagreements with my mother over it, I just can't do it.

[Jordan.]

Your own judgement > an estimated date by the manufacturer

[Jake.]

God no, mum always tries the "there's nothing wrong with it" line but I know her game

[Shaun]

There's a couple of items I use in baking that're in the cupboard and say they went out of date like a year ago but taste/smell fine (lemon juice, vanilla extract).

I wouldn't risk it with meat but bread I'll use until it goes hard, and milk until it smells funny, etc. Potatoes are the weirdest 'use by' dates for me, always seem fine even for a month after it.

[Gstar]

The freezer is my best friend, I freeze everything so it doesn't go out of date. Hate wasting food

[jennyjuniper]

Of course. The sell by date is there only to protect the ones who make these foods. Tinned food, so long as the cans are'nt dented or bulging can last for years past their sell by date. They might not taste as good as new, but they are'nt harmful.
As for packaged food, that too is okay. Give it a good sniff, your nose will tell you if it's okay or not.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Germyle

The freezer is my best friend, I freeze everything so it doesn't go out of date. Hate wasting food

Same here. I remember when I was a kid and food was scarce.

[bots]

the example used in the op is interesting, because so many people don't know the difference between use by and best before. Use by is the important one as it could be harmful to eat after the date shown. Best before only indicates that the quality may start to degrade, it doesn't mean the food will become harmful in any way.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/...-terms.aspx#bb

[lostalex]

i always assume the date is the last date it's okay to SELL the food, which means it should be okay in the fridge for at least 1 week. I always add a week to the sell by date to figure out the EAT by date.

[billy123]

Just make your own judgement on whether it is ok or not of course the manufacturers are going to put the shortest shelflife they can get away with on the packet that way they get to fleece people that take any notice of the dates they put on their own products.

[Suze]

Originally Posted by Jake.

God no, mum always tries the "there's nothing wrong with it" line but I know her game

Listen to mum, mum knows best.

[Suze]

Originally Posted by Germyle

The freezer is my best friend, I freeze everything so it doesn't go out of date. Hate wasting food

I absolutely agree with you Germyle, that said though, many foods can only be frozen for a certain length of time. I freeze butter, cheese etc; as it is the dairy foods mainly that are the ones that need to be kept an eye on with dates, some even go off before the dates such as cheese. I freeze most foods unless it specifically states not to be frozen.