Everything You Need to Know About Eidul Kabir in Northern Nigeria

Everything You Need to Know About Eidul Kabir in Northern Nigeria

Eid Kabir, also known as “Eid ul-Adha” or “Eid Qurban”, is the most important festival among the three grand festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide annually, including in northern Nigeria. The other two are “Eid Fitr” and “Eid Maulud.” 

Eid Kabir is also celebrated to mark the ending of “Hajj”, the pious pilgrimage to the city of Makkah, and observed on the very last day of the religious journey. The festival is celebrated on the tenth day of ‘Dhul Hijjah’, which is the twelfth and last month of the Islamic lunar calendar; the date shifts approximately eleven days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar. This celebration of Eid Kabir goes on extending up to the thirteenth day of Dhul Hijjah. 

Origin/History and Significance of Eid Kabir to Muslims

Eid Kabir, also known also as Eid Qurban or Eid ul-Adha, both meaning “Festival of the Sacrifice”, traces its origin from the story of Prophet Ibrahim according to the Quran.

Prophet Ibrahim had made prayer and promised to God to sacrifice a child of his own if God blessed him with children. After being granted his wish by God, the oath Prophet Ibrahim made visited him in his dreams where he dreamt he was slaughtering his firstborn son named Ismail. He then informed Ismail about the dream, who insisted that his father fulfill God’s command.

Ibrahim then took Ismail to ‘Mount Moriah’ where he intended to carry out his intentions. The devil (Shaytan) however, did not like the decision Ibrahim had made to obey God. So he tried persuading him not to.

But the prophet did not listen, with the help of ‘Angel Jibreel’, he threw pebbles at Shaytan in order to drive him away from the scene. After he succeeded and Shaytan was gone, Ibrahim proceeded further to carry out his intended act. However, God in his infinite mercy looked upon the dutiful heart of Ibrahim and sent Angel Jibreel a ‘ram’ in order to give to Ibrahim to replace Ismail for the intended sacrifice. Hence, Ismail was saved.

Eid Kabir since then has been celebrated annually by Muslims across the world to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command and fulfillment of his promise. Each year, Muslims on the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah sacrificed rams to celebrate this festival. In its absence, sacrificed cows, goats, and camels are used.

Eid Activities in Northern Nigeria

Festivals are a time to play songs people know and are looking forward to hearing.

Here in northern Nigeria, Eid Kabir also known as ‘Babban Sallah’ or ‘Sallan Layya’ is celebrated by Muslims before and during the festival in so many ways. The whole atmosphere turns into a cheerful and festive mood where northerners engage in the following: 

1. Beautification of Self

Starting from a week to Eid Kabir, the complete and thorough beautification of the body is common among northern Nigerian Muslims.

As observed, practices among women include grooming of toes and fingernails, styling and braiding of hair, and “Lalle”. Boys/men similarly engage in grooming of nails and barbing of hair.

Both parties busy themselves purchasing fabrics and handing them to tailors to make beautiful outfits for them to wear throughout the festive period.

Markets become full while orders are made online, and everyone is in feverish excitement to buy clothes and accessories to adorn himself/herself with in order to look their best on the occasion. 

2. Purchasing of Sacrificial Rams/Animals

As earlier said, Eid Kabir is a time when Muslims everywhere are striving to purchase rams or other animals which they are to use for sacrifice, starting mostly from a fortnight to it. Although the sacrifice itself is not made until the marked day, this purchasing; mandated for those who can afford it, is mostly done beforehand as rams then are generally cheaper.

This means that the earlier you buy them, the cheaper they will be. Men can be seen everywhere buying and transporting rams in preparation for the big day. 

3. Attending Communal Prayer (Eid Prayer)

Young and old, male and female, are seen on the morning of Eid Kabir in large and countless congregations making their journey noisily and vibrantly in new attires to attend communal prayer/Eid prayer nearest to them.

This Eid prayer, also known as ‘Salat al-Eid’, is a special morning prayer after sunrise, offered to commemorate two Islamic festivals. The first is offered on Eid Fitr while the second is offered on Eid Kabir. Although this prayer is not exactly mandatory, it is highly recommended for Muslims considering the huge reward associated with it.  

Traditionally, Eid prayers are offered in large congregations in open fields separating the women from the men. Two ‘Raka’ats’ are prayed. Eid Kabir prayer unlike Eid Fitr is offered in an earlier and more hastened manner as the slaughtering of rams at home comes immediately after the prayers.

Common religious practices of Muslims on Eid day in relation to this prayer include:

  • Taking of ritual bath before going to the mosque.
  • Wearing one’s new or best outfit.
  • Going on foot to the prayer ground using different routes for the journey to and fro.
  • Eating only upon returning from Eid prayers.

4. Slaughtering of Rams and Sharing of Meat (Layyah)

Eid Kabir is all about sacrificing an outlined animal and giving out parts of it for charity. Without this, the festival is meaningless. As such, the most important moment everyone is waiting for comes right after the offering of Eid prayers on the first day of Eid Kabir; which is why in Egypt, they refer to it as the ‘Meat Festival’.  

After the sacrificial animal is slaughtered, men can be seen engaging themselves in butchering the animal. Right after, women in the households take over, preparing the meat in various ways through frying and making of ‘Dambu’ and other recipes for eid.

Families will normally engage the services of ‘Mahauta’ to butcher the animal. But before that, the person to offer the sacrifice; who is financially able, sound man, and reached the age of puberty, will slit the animal’s throat after offering some words of prayers.

The skin of the slaughtered animal is then given in charity to mosques. Whereas the meat of the animal is divided into three parts and shared in charity among the needy, neighbors, and the owner’s immediate family.

5. Cooking and Sharing Food and Snacks in Large Quantities

Of course, no festival is complete without the attestation of the stomach. A wedding or naming ceremony, it is grand. But for Eid Kabir, it is even grander.

Northern women are marvelous when it comes to preparing food. During the first and second day of Eid, they can be seen setting up firewood or otherwise under the wide-open sky; where they chat, joke, and laugh while preparing  Rice, ‘Tuwo’, ‘Waina’, ‘Sinasir’, or any other food or snack of their choice.

Food and drinks prepared are served to anyone visiting on the Eid period or sent to family and friends elsewhere. Also, this food is distributed to neighbors, typically by children of the house, who are more than happy to attend this errand in order to receive the customary ‘Goron Sallah’, one of the biggest highlights of Eid for them. 

6. Visiting Family and Friends (Yawon Sallah)

Festivals are happy places and you don’t really want to enjoy them on your own.

If you are not visiting anyone on the day of Eid, be sure to expect visitors streaming in casually at all times. Why? Because Eid is a period where neighbor’s relatives, friends, and colleagues casually drop in to check on one another and share in the celebration and also give or receive “Goron Sallah”.

In northern Nigeria, celebrating Eid Kabir alone is unheard of. These visits happen mostly in the next three days after Eid and can continue up to a week. 

7. Attending Cultural Parade (Hawan Bariki and Hawan Daushe) 

The greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals

Siddarth Katradagga

Among the Hausa people, ‘Hawa’ meaning ‘Mounting’, is what makes Eid special in Northern Nigeria. It also distinguishes it from other Eid celebrations across the country and world. This is a cultural event where colorfully dressed horsemen mounted on colorfully decorated horses, match across streets while being cheered on by a large crowd of Muslims dressed in beautiful attire.

Hawan Bariki and Hawan Daushe are examples of this parade observed on the second and third days of Eid Kabir respectively, each one having its cultural importance. These two types of Hawan Sallah are popular in northern Nigerian states including Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina.

They have been passed on from generation to generation and are held in very high esteem by the northerners that even members of the royal households including the king partake in this parade. The king waves and smiles at the people as he progresses slowly on his richly dressed horse and is escorted by palace members.

This rich tradition has made it annually possible for people to be linked up or reunited on the streets as they witness this parade, Also, it is a chance for the king to have close contact with his residing subjects and share in their celebration. In addition to that, every year, it keeps the tradition of the Hausa people alive. 

8. Going on Family Outings or Organized Events

If you are a restaurant, bakery, ice cream, or any food/confectionary or event center owner, then it is the time of year for you to smile. Be sure to step up your game because family/friends’ outings, funfairs, school reunions, and other social events are all there to patronize you during Eid celebrations.

Here in northern Nigeria, families can be seen swarming in eateries to have good quality time. Because Eid Kabir is a public holiday period, social events such as kid funfairs and adult school reunions among others are a part of activities planned beforehand and enjoyed during Eid.

9. Watching Religious Shows/ Pilgrims’ Activities

Apart from sermons, T.V shows, “The Message” which is displayed annually during Eid Kabir is popular among Muslims in northern Nigeria, it is an epic historical drama chronicling the life and times of the Messenger of God. This is shown every year to serve as a lesson to all and a reminder to those already familiar with it.

In addition, since Eid Kabir also marks the end of the Muslim annual pilgrimage in Makkah, their activities are displayed also on T.V. It has become part of Eid celebrations for Muslims in northern Nigeria to sit down and watch these shows.

10. Taking of Pictures/Internet Saga

Click! Smartphone cameras have replaced the traditional way of visiting photo studios to take photos during Eid. Although some people still maintain this tradition, most people prefer to conveniently take pictures with their phones at every step of their Eid celebration. This they keep for memories or to share with their family and friends.

In this 21st century, the internet, especially social media platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter Instagram, and Snapchat, has become very busy with people uploading and sharing experiences of themselves and others. Women especially busy themselves with sharing photos of their hennas. All in a jolly mood to keep the spirit of Eid alive days on after the celebration has ended.

This internet saga enables people separated by a large distance and unable to visit one another to continually share in each other’s celebrations.

Conclusion

Looking back at these activities carried out by Muslims in northern Nigeria to celebrate Eid Kabir, one automatically feels like dropping by to personally share in the joyous mood and experiences of this period; which is a time of sharing and caring.

Visit Northern Nigeria, share in the hospitality of the Eid period, and tell us your own experiences of celebrating Eid Kabir in northern Nigeria.

Check Out These 25+ Small Wedding Ideas

Check Out These 25+ Small Wedding Ideas

Not everyone wants a big wedding and certainly, not everyone has the financial means for that kind of wedding. As a result, small simple weddings are a go-to. In this article, I will be taking you through how to go about a simple wedding ideas for a small wedding

A small wedding or a micro wedding in all definitions focuses on the guests which are usually 50 or lesser than that. When you go further to 100, that’s a medium wedding, and largely carries more than 100.

Why Small Weddings?

There are plenty of reasons to have a small wedding. Here’s a list for you:

  1. You get to keep the budget on the low and more friendly.
  2. Less budget means more focus on the bigger picture like a wedding dress, cakes, dinner, house, rent, family, kids, etc.
  3. You get to spend more individual time with your friends, family, and loved ones – like one-on-one time, isn’t that amazing?
  4. You create memories individually with them that linger on even after the wedding.
  5. With simple weddings, you end up in a stress-free and relaxed environment. Isn’t that rewarding?

“Less is more” because, with this, you get to socialize and have intimacy with your guests and make memories to always remember. While this already sounds interesting, read on to see more about micro weddings and how to go about them.

Ideas for a Simple Wedding

1. Send Handwritten Invitation Cards

First things first, our guests and invite, right? Since you already have the intention of having a small wedding, instead of printing cards why not write and customize them? It’s much easier, faster, fun, and budget freaking friendly.

Look out for lovely white cards or thick white paper to write your name, spouse’s, the date of the wedding, etc. It can’t be that hard or you can simply place a call to them or send a message about the big day.

2. Limit Who You Invite

Now that you’ve decided on handwritten cards, it’s time to make that list. When it comes to weddings, this is the highlight of it all, well apart from item 7, yeah. They make the event memorable, fun, exciting, and beautiful. But there’s a twist to this,

You don’t have to invite anyone and everyone to your simple wedding.

Yes, it’s a memorable day for you and your spouse. It’s a reason but remember, it’s a small wedding. The lesser they are, the merrier the event and of course, less budget.

3. Be Selective About Friends

“The less the merrier” remember? Be selective and strategize about the friends you want to send invitation cards to. Make sure they are the ones you want there and want to make memories with.

Feeling bad about the friends you left behind? Simple send gifts and souvenirs to them.

With this, you’re being thoughtful and in a way, you’re sending apologies to them. They will definitely understand you, relax.

4. Be Strict About Plus Ones (+1)

You thought I’d skip this one? No, no. Plus Ones are definitely those people that make your wedding congested and food not to go round. To top it all, they weren’t invited and you definitely don’t know them.

Imagine you planned item 7 for 40 people and your guest comes with 20 +1’s, where will you get item 7 to go round your guests and their guests? You’ll have to spend more to satisfy them or order more food to go round and that is not how you planned your budget, is it?

So, before sending out invitations, make sure you know your guests. If they are married, better you believe they will be coming with their spouse so add them to the list. When sending to others, be strict about it and tell your guests to understand and bear with you. Remember to check your parent list too, they will be inviting the whole state to the event. Check-in and check out, okay?

5. Choose the Wedding Venue with a Strict Guest Capacity

A bouncer? Security? Yeah, you get my point. Trust me, people have two coconut heads and even after your strictness on +1, some will still do what they want to. I mean, you can’t beat them, can you?

Pick a venue with strict rules on capacity and also have bouncers and security who check your guest in only after showing a legit invitation to them. As you do this, you take the pressure off yourself. I mean, you don’t have to worry about item 7 not going round. Or somebody you don’t know contesting the whole place. You also have less stress and a more relaxed atmosphere.

6.Opt for a Virtual Ceremony

Another tip that makes the list of simple wedding ideas for a small wedding is by embracing technology. I mean technology makes everything easy nowadays, doesn’t it? This idea here encourages you to have a loved one virtually attend your wedding. There are some guests whose presence means the world to you but due to one or two, will not be able to make it. That’s okay; this is why it’s a good idea to have a video call with them.

Simply encourage them or accept the idea for a Zoom video call. With this, they get to see you exchange vows, dance, merry, cut out the cake, eat, and play games and you get to keep your guest list small. Isn’t that the whole idea, yes?

7. Ditch the Wedding Party

Okay, I had to add this before I proceed to the main event of the day. Have it in mind that if you want this, you have to cut out on other things. Yeah, we all love to party (some of us, I know I do) but if you want a small wedding, you have to say No to this party.

Planning on having an after-party call for extra refreshments and of course, a messy house to clean up once they leave. So instead of this, have a prolonged reception with your guests and enjoy every moment with them.

8. Choose an Indoor Wedding Reception

This idea narrows down to considering using the backyard of your house or family house as the venue for the wedding. With family and friends around, it’d be easier and less budget for you as you get them to help. They could help with decorations and the setting up of the place.

With this, you have more time to talk and bond, also to plan how the event will take place. Another plus is that you have your parents around and this is meaningful in all languages.

9. Choose an Outdoor Venue and Reception

With fewer people on the guest list, you might just be considering a restaurant as the perfect place for the wedding venue. Calm down, don’t have that look or say “How can my wedding reception be at a restaurant?” It’s actually not a bad idea if you refurnish the place with the right linens, fabrics, and decorations.

With a restaurant, the furniture is already in the right place. All you need do is discuss with your spouse the bold colours you’ll want to use and the menu you’ll want to include.

Another option here is a “destination wedding” People tend to do this and it is quite small as only wanted guests will be there. If you’re able to, by all means, then go ahead.

10. Consider a Long Table Set Up

A long reception table is a fun way to have everyone making eye contact, feeling welcomed and included in every conversation. This setup makes even friends feel like family too on this beautiful day of your life.

11. Consider a U-Table Set-Up

A boring long table, am I right? How about a U-table setup? Get innovative and add tables to give you the U shape. This makes it merrier and helps in enhancing conversation amongst guests.

Be sure to decorate the tables, lay fabrics, linens on the table to give it a welcome touch. This makes the guest feel at home and connected too.

12. Get Creative with Decorations and Seating Arrangements

With small simple weddings come innovations and cracking of the head to come up with something elegant and beautiful. Planning a simple wedding involves seating arrangements with eye-catching decorations.

Consider using a large table or U-table like mentioned above. Lay linens, fabrics, or satin on them to give them a unique touch. Proceed to fill the spaces with flowers, glasses, lights, candles in the glasses, plants, cutleries, and napkins.

Use white curtains to give it a touch of warmth, ambience, and comfort. This also serves as a barrier from the sun.

13. Consider Hanging Some Decorations

Go big or go home, huh? You should consider lifting the flowers, flower pot, plants, or lights for added intimacy and ambience. A small wedding gives you ideas and opportunities to go big or go home. Try everything you think you can and be sure to come up with an elegant decoration.

14. Make Provision for Table Reservations

With fewer guests comes comfort, trust me. Place name cards on your guest table for them to recognize their allocated space and make them feel at home. With a few lists, you can make this or simply buy them. I recommend handwriting them the same way we did with the invitation cards.

Get crafty and personalize their names with calligraphy for each card. Make them feel special by adding a heart or even adding their pet name or nickname on the card.

15. Make Sure Cutleries Go Round

With tables come cutleries, don’t forget that. On every table and chair, place a set of cutleries (fork, spoon, and knife) and glassware (wine and water) or simply place table water.

Design each place beautifully and wonderful to honour your guest and give each chair space to enable them to eat comfortably. This also prevents them from hitting their elbows against each other.

16. Create Your Own Menu and Timeline of the Event

Have a structured timeline for your wedding so as not to forget what you really want to do on this auspicious day.

Incorporate tasty dishes into the menu or side dishes for the special guests. A good timeline will keep your guests glued and entertained. Don’t forget to tell them about your love story and of course how you guys met.

This is surely one of the simple wedding ideas for a small wedding worth noting.

17. Create An Ambiance Lounge Area

I mean, you can’t keep your guests sitting face to face with each other all day. How about you create a lounge area for them to relax and rest their backs?

You can create a lounge area with cushions, pillows, and throw pillows (I mean, throw = fun). With this, you give them room to interact more and also to relax. You can make fruit punch, cocktail, or smoothies to serve in wine glasses while the guest catches up and maybe, matchmaking. *wink*

18. Hire a Budget Friendly Entertainment

A good timeline could keep your guests entertained but if you’re able to, consider hiring a live band for extra entertainment. Yeah, we’re on a small wedding if you can’t afford one, let it be.

If you’re able to, hire one that is budget-friendly to you and your spouse. You might even be lucky to get one as a gift from your friends. Or an artiste may come to surprise you because your friend put the word out there about your wedding and how much you admire the said artiste.

19. Have a Friend Help out With the Pictures

I mean, what’s a wedding without pictures? Am I right? You deserve those pictures, okay. They are those memories you look back to and remember how heartfelt it was for you. You might just be lucky to have a friend who is a photographer and wouldn’t mind capturing every moment. If you’re not, invest in one for a couple of hours to capture intimate moments with friends, families, and loved ones.

With fewer guests on your side, you get to create the most intimate atmosphere with them. A photographer or your friend should help to capture the laughter, the joy, the cheers, and dance of course. These are moments to treasure the most of the day and after.

Don’t forget pre-wedding shoots cause I mean, we the guests have to post. Am I right?

20. Find a Friend who Can Take Both Pictures and Videos

One of the simple wedding ideas for a small wedding is considering video coverage. I mean, after photography comes videography at weddings. Have your photographer make a video or videos of your memorable day. If you were lucky to have a friend who helped in photography but can’t do videography, how about sending them out? With this, you’re sticking to a budget and killing two birds with a stone.

Have them make clips of happy moments, dancing moments, eating moments, clinging of glasses, joy, and laughter. Everything!

21. Have a Small Cake

With a simple wedding, you need fewer layers of cake. You are also opportune to add brownies or cookies as dessert for your guests.

All you need do is communicate with your baker about your idea, the number of people you’re inviting and be on a budget with them. Be sure to enjoy this at the lounge area with your friends and family.

22. Your Menu Should be Limited

This is also one of the simple wedding ideas for a small wedding. Instead of paying a caterer, there are two options for you here:

  • Create your own menu
  • Get an online food vendor

Both options will work well. Or simply Call Mama, it’s an emergency. Trust me, in this situation, it’s best to run to them. They will definitely do something as their quota for this auspicious day or Hello Friends!

23. Have Your Bridesmaid and Groomsmen be On Board

I completely forgot this but here you go! Everyone has to be involved, including them. Be open to them about your ideas and also listen to theirs. Do you want a grand entrance, an elegant one or a street one? Do you want blue or red or red and green? Bundle up and bond with them about these issues and plan something simple and classy.

24. Choose Second-Hand Wedding Outfits

Sigh, I didn’t skip this because I swear I almost did. I mean, WHAT, It’s FASHION! This speaks volumes. Well, there are tons of bridal styles online and if you want yours made, be sure to plan this ahead of time, say months. This is to avoid getting disappointed, I mean, some fashion designers do not keep to their words.

But, how about embracing something new? Rent! People rent out bridal dresses, suits, gowns, and ties, I mean everything. They are called “second hand” but they are still of quality, class, and style.

You can choose to rent the gown and suits while you buy other accessories like shoes, jewelry, and bags. With this being done, you’re cutting down on expenses and having that small wedding you want.

25. Go for Cheaper Hair, Nails, and Makeup

Ladies! Ladies! With this, you don’t have to plan much as you can book a makeup artist a day before the wedding. And if you’re lucky, your friend might just be one and make all your dreams looks be a reality. Or your chosen artiste could be running a promo or a discount and you’re it!

Find artistes that match your desired look and the same thing applies to your nails, hair, or matching veil to complete your glamorous look like a bride.

26. Don’t Go Beyond Your Budget

If you’re like me, you must have had a mental picture of all these ideas listed above. If you did that, now is the time to set a budget for all these ideas.

Feel free to discard any you don’t find a need to, I mean it’s your day and everything should go as you want it. Just be sure to work with that budget you fix and don’t go overboard with it. Remember to check out what you feel is not needed or wanted and is not important.

As you have seen, setting a budget is surely one of the simple wedding ideas for a small wedding worth putting into consideration.

27. Whatever Happens, Don’t Change your Wedding Date!

What’s next after that budget? This is next! After planning all you’ll do and not do, now is the time to pick a date. Be sure to pick a date when everything you’ve planned is ready.

Do not rush into it when you’ve not fully planned out everything. You don’t want to ruin this day with last-minute calls for decorations or a photographer. Take your time to check out what is most needed and what isn’t.

28. Choose an Affordable Destination for Honeymoon

I decided to write this as last because it’s not really important if you can’t afford it. But, with simple weddings, you can go all out on your honeymoon. Maybe a destination honeymoon if you’re able to. This gives room for not just body, mind, and soul intimacy but intimacy with the world, people, and nature.

Remember, there is no rush here. You can choose to delay to save some more or simply put the money you have into other things like savings, car, family, rent, etc.

Conclusion

The above-mentioned simple wedding ideas for a small wedding are all important. Simple weddings give room for creativity and togetherness with friends and family. Your wedding is the biggest event you’ll ever put together by yourself. If you’re on a budget and without a wedding planner, there’s a lot you have to do and with that said, I hope I met your every thought and answered your every idea. If I did not, feel free to let us know and drop your suggestions in the comments section.

Thank you.

Aisha Zakari

What to Do When Your Food Exceeds its Best Before or Expiry Date

What to Do When Your Food Exceeds its Best Before or Expiry Date

Labels on food products are one of the must-haves of packages or processed food. This is to ensure food safety giving the consumer more information on the food e.g. ingredients etc. In this article, I will be focusing on what you should do when your food exceeds its Best Before (BB) date.

Attached to every processed and packaged food item are two dates, the production date and the best before or expiry date. The production date does not cause any confusion but the other two dates do. People misinterpret the two dates leading to unnecessary waste of food. 

What Is the Definition of These Dates and Why Are They Important? 

Expiry Date

It is a less common cautionary date used in the food industry. It states the last day food is safe to eat. Any food beyond the expiry date should be tossed out immediately. Mostly written as EXP.

Best Before Date

It is the most commonly used cautionary date in the food industry. As the name implies, it states the date a food item is best to be consumed by. Foods that have passed their best before dates can be consumed on the condition that their appearance and odour are still agreeable. Bear in mind that this only applies to previously unopened food items. Mostly written as BB or Best Before.

Expiry dates denote food safety, while Best-before dates denote food quality.

Even though best before dates are beginning to sound like good news, it does not mean you have to keep food forever. That is why I’m here to tell you what you should do when your food exceeds its Best Before.

How Long Some Common Food Can Stay Even After the Best Before Date

1. Gala

First on my list for obvious reasons. With a best-before period of just a week after production, they’ve been turned down severally for being “expired” and unsafe to eat. On the contrary, they are still safe to eat. Maybe not at soft or fresh but they’ll still be fit to eat 3 – 4 days after their best-before date.

2. Soft Drinks

As a testimony, I once drank a chilled bottle of La Casera that was 3 months behind its best before date. It tasted the same and I didn’t suffer any complications.

A bottle of soft drink will still be fit to drink 3 months after the best before dates.

3. Canned Foods

Like sardines and Geisha, corned beef, sweet peas, and corns, etc. As long as the cans are not previously opened or pierced, they are still safe to consume as far as 3 months after their best before dates.

4. Jams and Other Condiments

According to Waste and Resources Action Programm (WRAP) in the UK, jams and the likes of it are still fit for consumption3 years after their best-before dates. Anyways, let us bench it lower at 6 months after the best-before date because we have village people.

Furthermore, WRAP cautions on ensuring that the seal on the jams has been firmly intact.

5. Biscuits and other snacks

These are also safe for consumption up to 3 months after their best-before dates.

With the intention to reduce food waste, please bear in mind that food safety is paramount. Ensure checking the labels on the food products to confirm it is the Best Before date and not Expiry date.

If the packaging is still intact and the appearance and odour are agreeable to common sense, only then should you consume food after their best-before dates.

Once again, under no circumstances should you consume any food past its Expiry date!

So here you go. I hope you now know what you should do when your food exceeds its Best Before. Tell me if you have any concerns in the comment box!