How-To Guides
Best By vs Use By vs Sell By: What Food Date Labels Really Mean
Date labels cause a huge amount of unnecessary food waste. Here's what each one actually means — and the only one that's really about safety.
5 min read
The labels aren't about safety (mostly)
Most food date labels are the manufacturer's estimate of peak quality, not a safety deadline. With one important exception, a date passing doesn't mean the food has become dangerous. Date-label confusion is responsible for a large share of household food waste — people throw away perfectly good food simply because of the number printed on the package.
'Best by' / 'Best before' — quality, not safety
These dates tell you when the food is at its best flavor and texture. Past the date, most shelf-stable and many refrigerated foods are still perfectly safe to eat — they may just lose a little quality. Trust your senses rather than the date: if it looks and smells fine, it usually is.
'Use by' — the one to respect
'Use by' is the only date that's really about safety. It appears on highly perishable foods such as fresh meat, ready-to-eat salads and soft cheeses. Don't eat these after the use-by date, even if they look and smell fine, because harmful bacteria can be present before you'd notice.
'Sell by' — a message to the store
'Sell by' tells the retailer how long to display an item; it isn't aimed at you. Food is typically good for days after the sell-by date if it has been stored properly — milk, for example, is often fine for 5–7 days past it.
How to tell if food is actually still good
When a date has passed, do a quick check:
- •Look for mold, sliminess or unusual discoloration.
- •Smell for sour, rancid or 'off' odors.
- •For canned food, discard any can that is bulging, leaking or badly rusted.
- •If a 'use by' date has passed on perishable food, throw it out.
- •If only a 'best by' date has passed and the food looks and smells normal, it's usually good to eat.
Store food right to make the dates last
Good storage keeps food good up to — and often well past — its quality date. Keep your fridge at or below 40°F (4°C), freeze anything you can't use in time, and rotate older items to the front so they get used first.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to eat food after the 'best by' date?+
Usually yes. 'Best by' and 'best before' are about quality, not safety. Many foods are fine for days or weeks afterward as long as they've been stored properly and look and smell normal.
What's the difference between 'use by' and 'best by'?+
'Use by' is a safety date on perishable foods — don't eat them after it. 'Best by' is a quality date, and the food is often still safe to eat after that date has passed.
Can I eat food after the 'sell by' date?+
Yes. 'Sell by' is guidance for the store, not the customer. Properly stored food is typically good for several days after — milk, for example, often lasts 5–7 days past its sell-by date.
Why do date labels cause so much food waste?+
Many people assume any passed date means the food is unsafe and throw out good food. Knowing that most dates are about quality — not safety — prevents a lot of unnecessary waste.
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