Best Before Concept

Best Before Concept


Every year in Hong Kong, over 150 million items of food—which have passed their “best before” dates but are still perfectly good to eat—are thrown away. GreenPrice specialises in surplus and short-dated stock, allowing us to pass on huge savings to our customers.


Get to Know Our Food Label

To eat or not to eat? "Best before" dates are indicators of freshness, taste, and texture. If stored properly, pre-packaged food remains safe for consumption beyond these dates.

Product past Best before date Use by date
Definition Product is no longer at its optimal quality Product is no longer safe for consumption
Example Snacks, sauce, dried and tinned food Salads, fish and meat products
Health risk No Yes
Taste change Depends on the period passed best before Unsatisfactory
Illegal selling* No Yes
In GreenPrice? Yes No

*According to Food and Drugs Regulation 132W
 


What the Experts Say…


    Friends of the Earth (HK)

    Hong Kong Baptist University, commissioned by FoE(HK), tested over 80 unopened food products that had passed their dates by several months to seven years. Results showed that microbial levels in all samples were satisfactory or within acceptable levels, demonstrating that “best before” dates do not mean the “dead end” for food! Link>>>

    Centre for Food Safety, HKSAR


    “Best before” dates relate to food quality—for example, taste, texture, aroma, and appearance. If food is stored properly, it can reasonably be expected to retain its specific properties up to and including the specified date. Link>>>

    Dr. Ka-Sing LEUNG - Adjunct Associate Professor of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at PolyU Hong Kong

    Products past their ‘use-by date’ should be disposed of. Products past their ‘best-before date’ may see a decline in nutritional value, but this is unrelated to the safety of consumption. Link>>>

    Simon Rimmer - BBC Food Fighters Host  

    Do not eat anything after its ‘use-by’ date; however, you can safely eat food after its ‘best-before’ date. I think we definitely waste too much food. Supermarkets selling short-dated food is a good and safe business. Link>>>



    We Share the Same Belief


    Approved Food United Kingdom

    Established in 2009, this company retails products near or past their best-before dates. It is the UK's largest online retailer for short-dated and residual stock.


    WeFood Denmark

    Wefood sells surplus food at prices 30% to 50% lower than normal. It has enjoyed such tremendous popularity in Copenhagen that it recently opened a second location in the trendy Nørrebro neighborhood.

    SirPlus Germany

    SirPlus is a store and online platform selling salvaged food that would otherwise be discarded for being too small, misshapen, or simply past its date.