Use-by dates are about safety
A use-by date on food is about safety. This is the most important date to remember. Foods can be eaten until the use-by date but NOT after. You will see use-by dates on food that goes off quickly, such as meat products or ready-to-eat salads.
For the use-by date to be a valid guide, you must carefully follow storage instructions. For example, if the instructions on the packaging tell you to refrigerate after opening, you should keep the food in a fridge at 5 Degrees Celcius or below. Find out more about chilling your food correctly
After the use-by date, don't eat it, cook it or freeze it! The food could be unsafe to eat or drink, even if it has been stored correctly and looks and smells fine. A lot of foods, including meat and milk can be frozen before the use-by date so plan ahead.
Once a food product with a 'use-by' date on it has been opened, you need to follow any instructions such as 'eat within three days of opening'. Remember, if the use-by date is tomorrow then you must use the food by the end of tomorrow, even if the label says 'eat within a week of opening' and you have only opened the food today.
If the food can be frozen its life can be extended beyond the use-by date. But make sure you follow any instructions on the pack, such as 'cook from frozen' or 'defrost thoroughly before use and use within 24 hours'.
If the food can be frozen its life can be extended beyond the use-by date. But make sure you follow any instructions on the pack, such as 'cook from frozen' or 'defrost thoroughly before use and use within 24 hours'. See more information on NHS Live Well website.
Best-before dates are about quality
The best-before date, sometimes shown as BBE, is about quality and not safety. The food will be safe to eat after this date but may not be at its best. Its flavour and texture may not be as good. Best before dates appear on a wide range of food including:
The best before date will only be accurate if the food is stored according to the instructions on the packaging.
For more guidance on WRAP's website for best before and use by dates, please see the link at the bottom of this page.
Plan your meals ahead
Get into the habit of checking what you have already in the fridge and freezer before you go shopping. Look out for foods that are approaching their use-by date and other fresh foods that can go off over time and try to use them up first. This includes fruit and vegetables, mean and fish, cheese, milk or any other dairy product.
Don't trust the sniff test
Food can look and smell fine past its use-by date, but that doesn't mean it's safe to eat. It could still be contaminated as you cannot see, smell or taste the bacteria that cause food poisoning.
Freeze and defrost your food correctly
Food properly frozen won't deteriorate and bacteria cannot grow in it, so when frozen it can't become more unsafe. Once defrosted however, the pause button is off. Only defrost food as you need it and eat within 24 hours.
Once food has been defrosted, use it within 24 hours and cook it until steaming hot before serving.