What primary concern defines the "Use By" date for highly perishable chilled foods?
Answer
Safety deadline due to potential harmful bacteria.
The "Use By" date is critically distinct from other labels because it signifies a definitive safety deadline, particularly for highly perishable items such as cooked meats, prepared salads, and certain dairy products. This date is based on scientific testing related to the proliferation of hazardous, invisible, and odorless pathogens. Even if the food passes sensory checks like smelling or looking fine, any product past its stated "Use By" date must be discarded rigorously because it risks harboring dangerous microorganisms, such as *Listeria*, which pose a direct threat to health.
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