What do use-by, best before and sell-by dates really mean?

Have you ever chucked food out just because of the date written on the packaging? And if so, why?

Food doesn’t suddenly become inedible at midnight on the printed date - and you probably know that.

So there’s a good chance that you’ve chucked out perfectly good food - and wasted money at the same time - for no reason.

That’s why it’s really important to know what dates on food labels are actually for and what they’re telling you.

Understanding this is one of the simplest ways to cut your food bill and make your money go further.

Use-by date

Use-by dates are about safety and usually displayed on food with a short shelf life, like:

• meat
• fish
• ready meals
• dairy products

After the use-by date, harmful bacteria may develop, even if the food looks and smells okay.

So if a use-by date for something like chicken is fast-approaching, put it in the freezer instead of throwing it away.

You can then use it weeks later, rather than waste food and fork out for more.

Best before date

Best before dates mean the food is at its best quality before this date.

But that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe to eat afterwards. 

There are loads of foods that are fine to eat long after the best before date, such as:

• pasta
• rice
• tinned food
• biscuits
• crisps
• sauces
• frozen food

If stored properly, lots of food items will be safe to eat weeks, months or maybe years after the best before date.

Best before dates aren’t a strict deadline - they’re just there as a guideline for quality.

So don’t be afraid to use your eyes, ears and common sense before rushing to throw something out.

If it looks and smells normal and it’s been stored properly, it will probably be fine.

Sell-by date

When you buy a food product, you’re planning to eat it, not sell it.

So if you often throw things away because of the sell-by date, take a step back and think logically for a moment.

A sell-by date is for the retailer, not the customer.

They help shops manage stock, make sure the oldest stock is at the front on the shelves, and know when to put items in the reduced section.

Reduced items approaching their sell-by date are usually just fine - and you can make them last even longer if you freeze them.

So in short:

•    Use-by dates are about the safety of the food.

•    Best before dates are about the quality of the food.

•    Sell-by dates are just for the attention of retailers.

Understanding these dates can be a game-changer if you’re feeling weighed down by the price of your weekly shop.

Just imagine how much money you can save now you know your food can last longer than you think.