Difference between best before and use by expiry dates
Published: 24 Jan 2024
On all consumable products, you'll find an expiry date. Frequently it will state either best before or use by, but what's the difference you might have wondered
Expiry dates
No matter where you travel in the world, when you buy consumable products they will contain an expiry date. With the exemption of fresh products picked in loose weight. Most countries has implemented best before and use by expiry dates, either as a requirement from the government or by the global companies, as they need to follow it in other countries they operate
Just remember that expiry dates, no matter how it's written. Is based on unopened products and will normally have a lower expiry date once opened. For products that has a short lifespan once opened, it will normally be written use within a specific amount of days after being opened and there can also be specific storage requirements, such as store in a fridge or cool dry space after being opened
Use by
As the name implies, these products should be used latest on the expiry date. After the use by date, you need to discard the items even if they look and smell fine
Best before
Best before on the other hand, will normally last well beyond the expiry date. The vendors normally put the best before date well before a product expire, as this is the date when they can guarantee the product will still look, smell and taste as expected. As long as the product is stored properly, it will stay fine well beyond it's expiry date. Just do a quick inspection of the product that it looks and smells fine, before consuming once beyond the best before date
Expiry date
Some products still use the old method of labeling and only write expiry date. Here you need to consider the product, if it somethings that can go bad quickly or if it's something that normally can be stored for a long time. If in doubt after product has expired, it's better to throw away to be on the safe side
Tags: #ExpiryDates #BestBefore #UseBy
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