A recent TV programme exposed the meaninglessness of ‘Best Before’ dates on food packets. France still has overseas territories namely, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, Réunion, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia. French food is shipped to  supermarkets in these territories that occupy the four corners of the globe. The sea journeys are very long, so manufacturers put much longer expiry times on those products being exported.