Use By vs Best Before: What’s the difference?

Posted 1 min ago

Every food product you purchase, whether from a supermarket or a wholesaler will have a date labelled on the packaging of the product. More often than not, these are known as use by or best before dates – they offer guidance on when that particular food item should be consumed.

But, what does it mean for you as the owner or operator of a food business? Complying with food labelling guidelines falls under your remit as a responsible food business owner. Staying compliant with food regulation laws includes providing the right food information to consumers. So, that’s what this blog covers, so you can stay compliant and make sure the food products you serve have all the right information and dates on them.

What information should be labelled on pre-packed food?

Pre-packed food is classified as such because it is packaged and ready for sale, and the contents of the product cannot be altered without the packaging being opened. If you serve pre-packaged food, there are several requirements that you must comply with to adhere to food regulation laws. Any pre-packed food must contain:

The name of the food
All ingredients and allergens clearly listed
Weight or volume of the food
A best-before or use-by date
Any alcoholic volumes as a percentage (if the alcohol content is over 1.2%)
Net quantity of the food

Use By vs Best Before

It’s a common misconception that a use by date and a best before date are the same thing. After all, it’s just a date that tells the consumer when the food they’ve purchased is no longer fit to eat or drink, right? Well, that’s where the problem lies. Misinterpreting these dates can be unsafe for consumers, but equally, it can land you in hot water as a food vendor.

Use by dates

A use by date indicates that a product isn’t safe to eat after the date stated. It is advised to not consume, cook or freeze food once the use by date has expired. Let’s put forward an example to illustrate exactly what is meant. Perhaps you’re a street food vendor that serves a variety of cooked food items, but one of the ingredients you use to make certain dishes is cream. The cream has gone beyond the use by date, and you may think because there is only a small amount of cream used in making the final product that this is safe to use. This should never occur, no matter how incremental the amount of a food item you need to use is. The adverse impact on your customers can still mean you’re liable if a customer falls ill.

Generally, use by dates are found on chilled products such as:

Cooked meats
Dairy products
Pre-prepared salads
Ready meals

If you source products from a wholesaler, then it’s worth checking the storage instructions on all products you purchase. If you prepare and store any of your own food, then it’s essential that you follow the four C’s of food hygiene.

Best before dates

The major difference between use by and best before dates is quality v safety. For products displaying best before dates, the main priority is quality. The rule of thumb is that best before dates are applied to products that do not need to be refrigerated or chilled. Foods that have best before dates include:

Dried pasta
Cereal
Wheat
Frozen food
Tinned food items
Cheese

Whereas the food is still safe to consume after the best before date, the quality of food will likely not be at the same level as before. As there are a wide variety of different foods that have best before dates, the timeframe for dates can differ significantly. It is not uncommon for tinned food items to have long dates on them lasting years, whereas cheese or some types of bread will have a much shorter best before date displayed.

Storage of products can increase or decrease the shelf life of the food product in question. Cool, dry cupboards that are clean means reduced exposure to air which can impact the particles in the food. Some products like fruit or vegetables can be chilled to increase shelf life. For example, if you were to leave potatoes exposed in your food preparation areas where it is much warmer, then their best before date might come around sooner than expected. However, storing them in a cool, dark, and dry place can extend their shelf life and help maintain their quality.

Understanding the difference between these two dates is crucial for both consumers and food vendors. By adhering to use by dates, vendors can avoid serving unsafe food, ensuring customer safety and compliance with regulations. On the other hand, best before dates allow vendors to manage stock efficiently and minimise food waste while still offering products that are safe to consume. Proper storage and stock rotation can further help maintain quality while reducing the chances of food being wasted.

When should I display a ‘Use by’ or “Best before’ date?

If there is a safety issue with consuming a product after a particular date, this is when a use by date should be displayed on the packaging or label of the product. Selling food past the use by date is a criminal offence.

The following items do not need a best before or use by date, however, you must display a lot number if you sell any of the following:

Fresh fruit and vegetables which are not peeled or cut
Wines, liqueur wines and sparkling wines
Any similar sparkling wine products made from fruit other than grapes
Drinks containing over 10% of alcohol volume
Baked or pastry good ready for same-day consumption
Salt, vinegar and solid sugar
Confectionery and chewing gums

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has great guidance on marking food items with dates here.

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