Use by Date vs. Best Before Date?Updated 2 years ago

Use by Date is usually applied to items that are ready to eat and should not be consumed past the date provided.

Best Before Date is usually applied to raw food items that undergo a further process, commonly referred to as a ‘kill step’ to ensure the product is safe to consume past this date.  

Kill Steps Include:

Heat Treatment such as cooking or pasteurization 

Chemical application (such as a rinse/ wash step); or 

Freezing. 

Beyond the best-before date, you may notice subtle differences in texture and appearance. If there are no key signs of deterioration or spoilage, then the product is generally safe to consume once cooked.