The best before date is about the quality of the food, while the use-by date is about safety. You should not eat food past its use by date, but you can eat food past its best before date if it looks, smells and tastes fine.
After the use by date has expired, the food is unsafe to eat. Even if the food looks and smells fine, it should not be eaten after this day as it may make you sick.
It’s important to follow storage instructions (such as ‘keep in a refrigerator’), prepare the food as described and eat it before the use by date. Over time, as foods are stored, the number of microbes increases and can eventually reach levels that could make you sick. This process is slower under colder temperatures, so to keep foods like fresh meat, fish or dairy from spoiling, they should be stored in the fridge.
The shelf-life of highly perishable foods can be extended beyond the use by date if it’s frozen before the use by date expires. If you think that you won’t be able to eat the food before that day, you can freeze it to use later.
If you need any help to get your 5 Star Food Hygiene Rating In England & Wales for your food business, please contact us on 01134401287