You MUST throw food away when it has gone past its USE BY date. This is the date after which it is no longer safe to eat. UNLESS it has been frozen. If it has been frozen, and food is defrosted when beyond the USE BY - then eat it on the day you defrost it.

This is why you should freeze perishable food on the day of purchase (or ASAP afterwards).

Best Before are not related to food safety - they relate to food quality.

Cucumber for example eaten after the best before is unlikely to kill you - however it wil be pretty yucky. Whereas Sausages eaten after the USE BY date may have developed enough bacteria to make you seriously ill - EVEN if they are cooked properly!

The Express should be more careful in their surveys!!!