Why can chicken be just fine going through packaging, delivery, and sitting on the shelves but after buying it from the store you have to use it in a few days before it goes “bad”?

Question

Why can chicken be just fine going through packaging, delivery, and sitting on the shelves but after buying it from the store you have to use it in a few days before it goes “bad”?

In: Biology

Answer 1

The temperature is strictly controlled throughout the process of packaging, delivery, sitting in the store. It’s kept cold enough to not allow growth of harmful microorganisms in that time. The “best before” date is valid when it is stored under specific conditions, it certainly allows for some variation in temp for a brief period of time (e.g. till it gets from the fridge truck to the store fridge).

But once out of the store fridge, it is transported to yours in less than ideal conditions temperature-wise. It can go bad even before you get home, if your car is hot enough and the trip home takes a certain time.