I do wonder how precise those ‘use by dates’ can be.
Would I risk food poisoning for the sake of a day or two?
How did we manage before these labels were introduced?
I’m all for eating something a little past its date: are you?

Is the witching hour midnight on the date on a ‘use by’ label?
Dare you not take a chance at a minute past the hour?
I suppose it depends on what the product actually is.
Cheese maybe, but not milk that’s already turning sour.

If we check our cupboards we’ll all have items out of date.
Herbs and spices probably going back to the year 1999.
We carefully ponder using them or throwing them away.
Then convince ourselves - herbs and spices, they’ll be fine!