Use By and Best Before

The facts behind the date labels from the Food Standards Agency.

  • 'Use by'

    'Use by': Never eat products after this date, and follow the storage instructions. However, check to see if the food can be frozen if you need to eat it at a later date. Visit the Food Standards Agency website for more information about food dates at http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/foodlabels/labellingterms/

  • 'Best Before'

    'Best before': These dates refer to quality rather than food safety. Foods with a best before date should be safe to eat after the 'best before' date, but they may no longer be at their best. One exception is eggs - never eat eggs after the 'best before' date. Visit the Food Standards Agency website for more information about food dates at http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/foodlabels/labellingterms/

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