Use by vs best before — what's the difference

Packs carry two different labels. One is about safety, the other is about taste. It decides what you can buy at a discount and how long you can keep it at home.

Use by

This is the date for perishable food: dairy, meat, fish, ready meals, salads. Until then the producer guarantees safety if the food is stored correctly. After it the product must not be sold and shouldn't be eaten, even if it looks and smells fine: dangerous bacteria don't always change taste or smell.

Best before

Found on grains, pasta, biscuits, canned food, chocolate and tea, often on imported goods. The producer promises the best taste and texture until this date. After it biscuits may soften and chocolate may turn whitish, but the product usually stays safe if the pack is intact and was stored properly.

Isrofsiz rules are stricter: any dated item is sold only until the date on the pack, and perishables are taken off sale at 23:59 the day before the last day.

How to read the date

• «Production date + shelf life» — count the last day yourself: made 01.10, keeps 7 days → until 08.10;
• storage conditions matter more than the date: «at +2…+6 °C» means the date doesn't apply in the heat;
• «after opening keep 3 days» — once opened, this period counts, not the date on the lid.

When the date won't help

Swollen cans and packs, rust or dents on a can's seam, mould, a bad smell — a reason not to eat it, whatever the date. Check the pack when you pick up an order: if something is wrong, refuse it and you get a full refund.