Use-by vs best-before
A use-by date is about food safety. A best-before date is about quality—so they should not be treated the same way.
Use-by: a safety date
Do not eat food after its use-by date, even if it looks or smells fine. The Food Standards Agency says food is safe to eat until midnight on the use-by date; after that, it should not be eaten unless it was cooked or frozen in time.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack. If you cook or freeze food before its use-by deadline, what happens next depends on how it is stored and handled.
Best-before: a quality date
A best-before date is about quality, not the same safety deadline. Passing that date alone does not automatically make food unsafe, but storage instructions still matter. Eggs can need particular handling, so use official guidance rather than relying only on the date.
Check the right label
If your food has a use-by date, use the checker for the facts you know. For a best-before date, assess the product instructions and relevant official advice. Read the Food Standards Agency guidance
Use the checker for your situation
This page gives general UK guidance. Check your food for the situations Safe to Eat? currently covers.
Sources and scope
Last checked: 5 September 2026.
This resource is based on UK food-safety guidance and does not replace the checker’s personalised questions. Read how the checker works and see the official sources.