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Use By & Best Before Dates: What Do They Mean?

FYI, they’re not the same thing. - by Lottie Dalziel
  • 10 Aug 2019
Use By & Best Before Dates: What Do They Mean?
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What is the difference between use by and best before dates? While the numbers stamped on that container of cumin that’s been lurking at the back of the pantry for years may seem confusing, in reality, they’re very simple.

You see, in Australia, the Food Standards Code states that all packages with a shelf life of less than two years must be stamped with either one of two types of date markings: a use by or best before date. This is to give consumers a general guide as to how long the food can be kept before it begins to deteriorate or become unsafe to eat. But what’s the difference between use by and best before dates, you ask? Here, we break it down.

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What is the definition of use by date?  

Use by dates only appear on foods that must be eaten before a certain period of time due to the health and safety risk this would pose (e.g. food poisoning). This is especially important for goods such as milk, fish, meat products like chicken and cooked, pre-prepared meals that are chilled instead of frozen. Note: it is illegal for stores to sell a product after the use by date has passed.

MILK
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 What is the definition of best before date?

Best before dates mainly appear on eggs, dairy products like yoghurt, frozen, dried and canned foods. Once the best before date on the package expires, the goods are still perfectly safe for consumption, however, you may notice a difference in the quality (such as flavour and texture.)

TIN
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Often, foods with a shelf-life of two years or longer won’t have a best before date. This is because it’s difficult to tell exactly how long they will keep before spoiling and often they will be consumed well before this point. Another exception is bread, which may carry a ‘baked on’ or ‘baked for’ date if it’s expected shelf life is less than a week.

BREAD
Getty

RELATED: Grams to cups: how many grams in a cup?

Lottie Dalziel
Lottie Dalziel
Lottie Dalziel, is a 4AM riser and coffee-addict who lives and breathes all things food. When she isn't reading up on the latest trends in sustainability or discovering ways to upcycle almost anything, you can find her by the beach, cooking up a storm or adding to her abundant (some would say out of control) plant collection.

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