2026-06-24T01:24:53Zhttps://riubu.ubu.es/oai/request

oai:riubu.ubu.es:10259/118652026-06-19T08:47:24Zcom_10259_5363com_10259_5086com_10259_2604col_10259_5364

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Smigic, Nada author Ozilgen, Sibel author Gómez-López, Vicente M. author Osés Gómez, Sandra María author Miloradovic, Zorana author Aleksic, Biljana author Miocinovic, Jelena author Smole Možina, Sonja author Demsar, Lea author Guiné, Raquel author Gonçalves, João Carlos author Trafialek, Joanna author Czarniecka-Skubina, Ewa author Blazic, Marijana author Herljevic, Dora author Nikolić, Aleksandra author Mujčinović, Alen author Barjaktarovic-Labovic, Snezana author Djekic, Ilija author 2026-04 Food contamination may occur within the complete food chain, with domestic handling and inadequate storage often contributing to foodborne illness. Therefore, accurate food safety information on packaging, including date labels and storage instructions, is essential. However, cross-national comparisons of labelling practices for chilled ready-to-eat (RTE) foods remain limited. This study examined and compared labelling practices in six European Union (EU) countries and four non-EU countries, focusing on date labels, recommended storage temperatures, and secondary shelf life. Data from 2665 food labels were collected between May and September 2023 through in-store observations and online resources. Most labels indicated either a “Use by” or “Best before” date, reflecting microbiological and quality stability. Cluster analysis identified two groups: Cluster 1, mainly from Portugal and Spain, included more stable products with “Best before” dates, whereas Cluster 2, dominated by French and Turkish labels, comprised more perishable foods with “Use by” dates. Recommended storage temperatures varied from +4 °C to +12 °C, indicating potential consumer confusion. 0963-7486 https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11865 10.1080/09637486.2026.2655369 1465-3478 Chilled ready-to-eat foods Food labels Secondaryshelf life Food safety Food labelling in focus: a transnational analysis of chilled ready-to-eat products in the EU, the Western Balkans and Turkey