My Dad believes in keeping things beyond their ‘use by’ date if he feels they still have some use or effectiveness. When staying with him last week I was looking for some mentholated chest rub and grabbed a small jar from the bathroom cupboard. It was quickly returned however, when I read that the contents had reached their ‘use by’ date in 1996 – that’s 12 years ago! Even if the menthol still had some use, I am one to opt for a newer batch, and I’m hoping most of you will agree with me :).

Companies decide how long their product will be useful for and they set the expiry date accordingly.