Elaine

[Elaineb]

I have an unopened box of Rude Health Organic buckwheat with best before of 20/11/17. Will it be ok to use?

 

[Scott Adams]

It should be ok...I have a friend who is a doctor and he just ate some rice that had a best before date that was 10 years ago. 

[cyclinglady]

Yes!  White Rice lasts a very long time (like almost 20 years) if stored in a container.  Brown rice goes raced fast.  

https://extension.usu.edu/foodstorage/howdoi/white_rice

But....Elaine asked about buckwheat.   It does not last as long as white rice.   Closer to wheat or brown rice.  More oils, I think.    What form of buckwheat?  That makes a difference along with where it was stored.  Best to google it.  

 

Edited March 28, 2020 by cyclinglady

[psawyer]

"Best before" means what is says. After that date, the product may fade in flavour or other sensory matters. It certainly does not mean unsafe to eat. But use common sense. Dry goods like buckwheat or rice have a very long shelf life. Pay more attention to meat and dairy products, some of which may actually have an expiry date.

On pharmaceuticals, the date will be an expiry date: the last date on which the manufacturer assures that the product will find full effect as claimed. Again, it is a conservative date, and using a product beyond that date may work for several months.