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Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
5 min
22/01/2026
The differences among sell-by, use-by, and best-by date labels are not always easy for consumers to understand, as they are often confused with one another. The use-by dates on food products indicate when the product is safe to consume; however, other labels provide information about the product's quality and typically do not indicate when it has spoiled.
Food labelling dates are the most significant contributor to food waste in consumers' homes. Every day, perfectly good food is discarded because of a misunderstanding, misreading, or misinterpretation of the date on the label. In many cases, the date on the label does not reflect the product's actual freshness, as other factors have a much greater effect on food's freshness than the label. This article will discuss the meaning of use-by dates, the differences between sell-by and best-before dates, and finally, how knowing this information can help households save money while eliminating unnecessary waste.
Retailers use sell-by dates to manage inventory in their stores. Sell-by dates give retailers an indication of how long to keep an item on their shelves to manage their inventory, rather than indicating the date the food becomes unfit for human consumption. For some foods, the shelf life can extend well beyond the sell-by date, provided they are stored properly. By treating a sell-by date as a deadline for food disposal, many households are creating a great deal of waste, particularly for foods that can be stored on shelves (such as canned goods) or in the refrigerator (such as dairy products).
The statements on packaging regarding best-before dates focus more on the food's optimal quality than on safety. Although the texture, smell, and taste may decline after the date indicated on the package, the food item is still safe to eat after that date. Many dry goods, canned goods, frozen goods and many packaged items fall under this guidance. Most people automatically throw away anything past the best-before date. However, it is important to realise that, for most products, quality declines gradually rather than abruptly.
Use-by dates, unlike best-before dates, indicate the safety of a food item and relate only to perishable food products (fresh meats, seafood and ready-to-eat dairy) that must be stored properly and in unopened packaging. Through sensory checks such as smell and touch, and by observing for visible spoilage, one can determine whether an item is still safe. If you do not understand what a use-by date means, you will be more likely to throw out food that is still safe to consume when it has been stored and handled correctly.
Temperature control, proper hygiene, and airtight storage are all critical in maintaining the quality of food beyond what's written on the label. A cold product that has been kept below recommended storage temperatures may still be fresh even after its printed date has passed, while a product that has been kept in an unsuitable condition may spoil before the date shown on the label. Personal habits regarding the refrigerator and freezer, in addition to properly resealing food packages, can greatly affect how safe food remains after its date of print.
Food should be evaluated using sensory methods to determine its state before throwing it away. The three senses of sight, smell, and touch can give immediate clues to possible food spoilage; for example, if mould has formed, there is a strong sour odour, or a slimy feeling on the surface of the food, it is probably considered waste, even if the printed date has not expired. On the other hand, properly stored food that is not yet spoiled can be eaten as long as it appears safe to consume using the senses of sight, smell, and touch.
One of the primary contributors to global food waste is consumer confusion about food labels. Consumers tend to interpret every date as a warning that the food is spoiled and, as a result, discard food that is still edible. This has resulted in an unnecessary increase in the costs associated with grocery shopping, greater demand on available food resources, and an adverse effect on the environment.
Freshness is based on the totality of all factors not just based on a date printed on packaging; for example, retailer "sell-by" dates provide retailers with one level of guidance as to when they should sell food; "best-by" and "use-by" dates provide consumers with information regarding quality and safety, but these dates do not define maximum safe storage times.
