More Canadians eating food past 'best before' dates as costs rise
As the cost of groceries increases, more Canadians are willing to go past the best before dates on food. A recent study out of Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab surveyed 9,109 Canadians to see how they are managing food safety risks.
It found that 58 per cent of respondents were more inclined to consume food close to or past its best before date due to higher food costs. Forty-eight per cent said they were unsure whether eating such food could lead to illness, and just over 50 per cent said they believe higher food prices have forced them to take more risks with food.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
"The findings from our study at the Agri-Food Analytics Lab highlight a concerning trend: as food prices climb, more Canadians are taking risks with their food safety," said Agri-Food Director Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. "It's imperative that we address these issues collectively to ensure that no Canadian must choose between economic hardship and their health."
Some local shoppers on Thursday told CTV News they have treated best before dates as guidelines rather than hard rules in the past – the rising cost of food only reinforcing that strategy.
"I've always done that and I'll continue to do it," said Doug Gray, "but more so now because of the cost of groceries going up."
For Kirsten Tucker, it marks a clear change in her family's eating habits.
"We do not follow [best before dates] anymore to be honest," Tucker said. "We travel for our groceries further than we used to because of the costs, so it makes it harder."
Celine Hobbs says she is strict about following the printed guidelines, but can understand why other families would push the limits of their food's lifespan.
"It's either that or buy things that are not healthy or the cheapest alternative that you possibly find just so that you can get food," Hobbs said.
The findings out of Agri-Food are in line with what some nutritionists have observed locally. Rachel Caven of Caven Nutrition says around 50 per cent of her clients have admitted to consuming food past its best before date. A tactic, she says, that does not immediately raise health concerns.
"Depending on the product, you can actually push the best before date a little bit," she said. "You might find it decrease the quality or the taste of the food, but it won't necessarily be dangerous."
That advice ends at food products that can become hazardous.
"Absolutely stick with the best before and expiry dates on all meats, but things like dried foods - you can push a little bit, some condiments as well - maybe a couple of days."
Rather than put safety on the line, Caven recommends doing some extra planning ahead of the trip to the grocery store.
"The biggest thing is planning out some meals for the week and doing batch cooking. It's okay to have some of the processed foods every once in a while when you need to, but trying to have some really cost effective, healthy foods is crucial."
Or residents can take food into their own hands with a home garden.
"You don't have to have a huge backyard or farm or anything - you can start in a windowsill or even on a balcony and start with some herbs, or tomatoes, or some greens. That can help you with your food for the whole summer."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
BREAKING Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, claims he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers for Jeremy Skibicki have told the court the accused unlawfully caused the death of four women, but argue he is not criminally responsible due to mental disorder.
WATCH Avian flu: Risk to humans grows as outbreaks spread, warns expert
H5N1 or avian flu is decimating wildlife around the world and is now spreading among cattle in the United States, sparking concerns about 'pandemic potential' for humans. Now a health expert is urging Canada to scale up surveillance north of the border.
Human remains were found at a former Hitler base, but decay prevents determining the cause of death
Polish prosecutors have discontinued an investigation into human skeletons found at a site where German dictator Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders spent time during the Second World War because the advanced state of decay made it impossible to determine the cause of death, a spokesman said Monday.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Trump fined US$1,000 for gag order violation in hush money case as judge warns of possible jail time
The judge presiding over Donald Trump's hush money trial fined him US$1,000 on Monday for violating his gag order once again and sternly warned the former president that additional violations could result in jail time.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.