PLO, a body that once made history but has long since passed its best-before date.

ECONOMIST: After Hussein

Compliance with the new guidance is not required by law, although Defra says businesses are legally bound to label food with either a use-by or best-before date.

BBC: Scrap food sell-by dates, government urges manufacturers

Foods likely to require only a best-before date - meaning they may lose quality but are still safe to consume - include biscuits, jams, pickles, crisps and tinned foods.

BBC: Scrap food sell-by dates, government urges manufacturers

"Helping consumers understand that food past its best-before date can still be eaten or cooked could contribute to reducing food waste and saving people money, " he said.

BBC: Scrap food sell-by dates, government urges manufacturers

The advice is they should be eaten by a day or two after the "best-before" date, providing the eggs are cooked thoroughly until yolk and white are both solid, or if they are used in dishes where they will be fully cooked, such as a cake.

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The voluntary national recall includes 2.5-ounce packages of raisin cookies with a "best if used before" date before June 30, 2009, with UPC codes 3010032708 and 3010037899, the company said in a written statement posted on its Web site.

CNN: Supermarket chain joins peanut-product recall