For me the pace of degradation is arrested the minute you get hold of it and jar it up and it does seem some of the expiry dates are not relevant and a lot depends on the packaging it has been sat in and I've had some nice effective MC and used it well past it's expiry .
I'd obviously prefer fresh stuff all the time but balancing costs has led to try these near expiry goods and in the main they have been effective and satisfactory all things considered