Marked-down food: check the date before deciding it is good value
Understand use-by and best-before labels, then match a discounted purchase to a meal you can realistically make.
Read which kind of date it is
A markdown can be useful when the food fits a meal you already plan to make. Start by reading the date label and storage instructions rather than judging the offer by the size of the discount.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s 31 October 2024 explanation distinguishes the two main date marks: use-by is about safety, while best-before is about quality. Food should not be eaten after its use-by date. Food past its best-before date may still be suitable to eat, although its quality may have declined. Check its condition and follow the storage instructions; the date does not override unsafe handling.[1]
Do not use smell to override a use-by date
New Zealand Food Safety’s 9 March 2022 guidance says food past its use-by date should be thrown out, even if it looks or smells normal. It also advises throwing food out if it looks or smells wrong regardless of the label, and discarding it if you are unsure.
Follow the product’s storage and after-opening instructions. A printed date is not a reason to keep food that has been handled or stored unsafely.[2]
Match the quantity to a real meal
For a fictional example, a marked-down 600 g pack costs $5 instead of $8. If you can safely use the whole pack in a planned meal, your purchase costs $3 less than the stated comparison price.
If only half will be used and the rest discarded, the $5 buys 300 g you actually eat. A smaller suitable pack at $4 would cost less for that meal, even though its label has no markdown. These amounts illustrate the calculation, not a current supermarket offer.
Before buying, check how much the recipe needs, when you will cook it and whether there is suitable storage space. Avoid buying several short-dated packs simply because each one has a lower sticker price.
Put the food you need to use first on the plan
Add the purchase to a specific meal and adjust your shopping list so it replaces something, rather than becoming an extra item.
Compare unit prices if there are several suitable options. Let the date, safe handling requirements and amount you will use decide whether the markdown works for your household.