Notes on Food Date Labelling requirements
Use by
The 'use-by' code must be used for foods that are microbiologically highly perishable, foods which deteriorate and become a danger to human health after a short time. This type of code is often used for chilled foods such as sandwiches and cook-chill meals which should be stored in the refrigerator.
This is the key date in terms of safety. You will usually find a ‘use by’ date on food that goes off quickly, such as meat, fish, milk, soft cheese and packet salads.
It is important to store these sorts of foods properly to make sure they last until the ‘use by’ date. Make sure you follow the storage instructions given on the pack.
If a food can be frozen you can use it after the ‘use by’ date. Just make sure you follow any instructions on the pack – such as ‘freeze on the day of purchase’ and ‘defrost thoroughly before use and use within 24 hours’.
For the 'use by' date to be a valid guide, you must follow carefully storage instructions such as 'keep in a refrigerator'. If you don't follow these instructions, the food will spoil more quickly and you may risk food poisoning.
'Use by' does not always mean 'eat by'. If a 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 'freeze on day of purchase', 'cook from frozen' or 'defrost thoroughly before use and use within 24 hours'.
It's also important you follow any instructions for cooking and preparation shown on the label.
Once a food with a 'use by' date on it has been opened, you also need to follow any instructions such as 'eat within a week of opening'.
But if the 'use by' date is tomorrow, then you must use the food by the end of tomorrow, even if you only opened it today.
It is also important to follow any instructions for cooking and preparation shown on the label.
It is also important to follow any instructions for cooking and preparation shown on the label.
Best before
This type of code is used for products where a 'use-by' date is not applicable or required.
The 'best-before' date must be expressed as a day and month and year, in that order. For products with a shelf-life of three months or less, for example bread, crisps, biscuits and sweets, the 'best before' date may be expressed as a day and month only.
Best before’ dates tend to be about quality rather than safety. You will usually see these dates on foods that last longer – such as frozen, dried or tinned foods.
It should be safe to eat food after the ‘best before’ date, but the food might begin to lose its flavour and texture and no longer be at its best.
One exception is eggs. To enjoy eggs at their optimum quality you shouldn’t eat them after the ‘best before’ date. Eggs can contain salmonella and evidence shows that the risk of illness in consumers increases if they eat any contaminated eggs that are getting older and that have not been properly stored.
It is especially important that children, pregnant women, elderly people and anyone who is unwell should not risk eating eggs after the ‘best before’ date. Eggs should always be stored in the fridge and cooked properly – until the yolks and whites are solid.
Other dates
You might also see ‘sell by’ or ‘display until’ dates. These are to help shop staff know when to remove a product from sale.
Best before end
This is an alternative form of the 'best-before' date for products with a shelf-life of more than three months, for example canned and bottled goods, drinks and frozen foods. It may be expressed in terms of a month and year only, or if the product has a shelf-life of more than 18 months, in terms of a month and year or a year only.
Foods not requiring Date Codes
Agricultural products which, on leaving the agricultural premises of production, are either sold or delivered to temporary storage, preparation or packaging stations or to producers' organisations; or collected for immediate use in an operational preparation or processing system. The term "agricultural product" applies only to primary agricultural products (i.e. products of the soil, stock farming or fisheries which have not undergone initial processing). Examples could be harvested vegetables delivered to grading or packing stations, fresh fruit provided for canning operations;
Individual items of food which at point of sale to the ultimate consumer are not prepacked, such as loose sweets, fruit and vegetables;
Foods sold to the ultimate consumer which are prepacked for direct sale (for example bread baked on the premises for direct sale) or which are prepacked at the request of the purchaser;
Individual goods not intended to be sold separately, such as single tea bags or chocolates;
Foods which are in a package or container, of which the largest side has a surface area of less than 10 square centimetres;
Individual portions intended as an accompaniment to another food provided at a catering establishment for immediate consumption, such as sachets of salt, sauce or sugar.
Also excluded are tea bags, coffee etc. provided as part of another service, for example drink making facilities in hotel rooms;
Individual portions of ice cream and other edible ices.
Please note:This information is given for your guidance but the author cannot be held responsible for any errors or changes in the law subsequent to the time of writing.
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Please note: at present we only supply within the UK. All prices
ex VAT & Delivery
Labels to fit Danro, OpenData, Meto, Lynx, Avery, Motex, Sato,
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