What Is The Difference Between Use By And Best Before?

              

What Is The Difference Between Use By And Best Before?

In the United Kingdom, food labels often include two important dates: "Use By" and "Best Before." Understanding these terms can help you make safe and tasty choices when it comes to your food.

• Use By (Safety): The "Use By" date is all about safety. You'll find this date on foods that spoil quickly, such as fresh meats, fish, ready-made salads, and dairy products. It’s crucial not to eat these foods after the "Use By" date because they could make you sick due to harmful bacteria that can grow over time. Even if the food looks and smells okay, it’s best to avoid eating it after this date to reduce the risk of health problems.
• Best Before (Quality): On the other hand, the "Best Before" date is more about quality than safety. This label can be found on items such as frozen foods, dried goods, canned goods, biscuits, and snacks. After the "Best Before" date, these foods might not taste as good or have the same texture, but they’re usually still safe to eat. You can use your senses—like smell and sight—to decide if they’re okay, which is different from "Use By" foods that should be discarded after the date.
• Freezing Tips: You can freeze foods before their "Use By" date to keep them fresh longer. However, once a food has passed its "Use By" date, freezing it isn’t safe.
• Legal Rules: There are laws about these dates, too. Retailers are not allowed to sell food past its "Use By" date because it could be dangerous for consumers. But they can sell items that are past the "Best Before" date, as long as the food is still safe to eat.
• Other Names: Sometimes "Use By" dates are called "safety" or "expiry" dates, highlighting the importance of eating those foods before the date to stay healthy. "Best Before" might also be labelled as "Best Before End" (BBE), focusing on keeping the food at its best quality for longer.