What is the Difference between best before and expiry date?

Answer 1

The sell by date is a date set by the government that the product has to be sold by or removed from sale. This is to keep it from spoiling. Best if used by is when the product may lose moisture, or some flavor or for some other reason may not be as good to eat. Not spoiled, just not what the manufacturer wants his product to taste or look like.

Answer 2

The Important Difference between Best Before and Use by Dates (UK)

Best Before Date- This is the date up to and including which the food can be expected to remain at peak quality (at its best) if correctly stored. Food may be edible after this date; however its quality may suffer (for example biscuits that may stale).

Use By Date- The 'use by' date is used for foods which are highly perishable and can, after a short period, cause an immediate health risk; examples are prepared Sandwiches, fresh meats/fish and some ready prepared meals. These foods could become a health risk if used after the 'use by' date. It clearly instructs consumers as to the date a product must be used by. NB- Some foods, such as bread, are highly perishable but do not carry the immediate risk and are therefore labelled with a 'best before date'.

Eggs- There are some specific rules that only apply to eggs. Eggs must be marked with a 'best before' date. This date may be up to a maximum of 28 days after the eggs are laid. A sensible approach is to treat egg 'best before' dates as a 'use by' date, as these carry increased health risk where eaten out of date. Appliedfoodtechnology.com

Answer 3

If you miss the deadline for "use by", throw it out. If you miss it for "best before", you have a margin where it's still edible, but it should be consumed ASAP. (More than a week past date will just get riskier.)

Answer 4

This basically means that after thesell-by date you may have 1 or 2 days to leave the meat in the fridge before cooking it. I have a general rule that once the meat reaches the sell-by date, it needs to go in the freezer. You could probably leave it refrigerated and cook before the best-by date but I would not recommend going later than that.

Answer 5

Best before dates deal mainly with taste and performance, not food safety. For example, a cake mix that is beyond its "best before" date may not taste as good or may not rise as well. The cake, however, is fine to eat. I've never had a problem with a product consumed (well) after its best before date. Expiration dates tend to be more on refrigerated foods and should be consumed within a week or less after the date.