Best before date vs. use-by date - are they all the same or completely different?

When buying food, one naturally wants to know how long it will keep and therefore relies on the labeling on the respective packaging.

But how long do foods actually keep? And is it dangerous to consume food that has passed its best-before date? We'll be exploring this fascinating question in today's blog post!

Should you throw away food immediately once the best-before date has passed?

To answer this question right away: NO!

The best-before date is definitely not a "throw-away date". If the stated date has passed, this does not necessarily mean that the food is spoiled or inedible.

Although the manufacturer's "guarantee" for the product has "expired" after the best before date has been reached, most foods are still safe to eat after this date.

Because: If the packaging is sealed and the food is stored correctly, it can often be enjoyed without hesitation even after the stated best-before date has passed.

Trust your senses: Does the food smell unusual? Do you see any mold or other abnormalities?

Did you know that some manufacturers set the best-before date earlier, simply to be on the safe side?

But what do "best before" date and "use by" date actually mean? And what's the difference between them?

The best before date (BBD) defines the period of time until which the manufacturer guarantees that the sealed food product will retain its specific properties (smell, taste, consistency and nutritional value) if stored correctly throughout.

For some foods – like dates – the shelf life depends on certain conditions, such as storage temperature. This must then be stated on the label.

But how should things be labelled? Here's an overview!

• For food products with a shelf life of less than three months, the exact day and month must be specified.

• For food products with a shelf life of 3-18 months, the month and year must be indicated accordingly.

• For shelf life exceeding 18 months, stating the year is sufficient.

• For some foods (fresh fruit and vegetables, wine, chewing gum, salt, vinegar) there is no required best-before date.

Best before date vs. use-by date - what exactly is the difference?

Foods that spoil very easily and can pose a serious health risk are labelled with the so-called use-by date.

The use-by date indicates the last day on which the food may still be sold and eaten.

For these products, the use-by date indicates when the product's shelf life has ended. These foods should be consumed promptly and ideally before the use-by date.

These foods often have a use-by date:

• Meat

• Fish

• Cheese

• deli salads

• pre-cut salads

It is important to distinguish between the best before date (BBD) and the use-by date!

After the best-before date has passed, food can still be sold and eaten - as long as it is still in perfect condition.

After the expiry date, the sale of a product is prohibited due to health hazards - it belongs in the trash.

For opened food products, such as packaged fruit juices or milk, storage conditions and the consumption period must be indicated. For example, by instructions such as: "Consume within two days of opening."

Can food products still be sold if the best-before or use-by date has passed?

Yes, food products with a stated best-before date may still be sold even after that date has passed, as they are not automatically spoiled! However, it must be ensured that the product is still in perfect condition.

The situation is different with the use-by date: After reaching the date “use by …”, food products with this label may no longer be sold.

What do the storage conditions and instructions mean?

In most cases, near the specified best before date or use-by date, you will find information on the specific storage and usage conditions for the packaged food.

These instructions, such as “store in a cool, dry place” or “protect from heat and moisture”, must definitely be followed to ensure a long shelf life.

It is also very important to correctly follow the refrigeration recommendations on the food packaging!

How to properly store organic dates - here's how to do it right for long-lasting snacking pleasure!

Our dates are absolutely fresh, free from added sugar, other additives, and pesticides, and should therefore ALWAYS be stored in the refrigerator or freezer at a maximum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius!

IMPORTANT: A dark basement/storage room without cooling is therefore not sufficient!

As a general rule: the fresher and softer the date, the more important proper, refrigerated storage is!

It is especially important for our royal Medjool dates to be stored correctly from the beginning, as they can dry out very quickly at warmer temperatures.

You can simply put your dates in the refrigerator/freezer with the whole box without worry, or transfer them to jars - this will not change the shelf life of the dates!

Professional tip for optimal storage:

Due to the high sugar content of palm fruits, dates never freeze completely in the freezer and are therefore always ready to snack on!

Proper storage at a glance:

• Always store our fresh organic dates in the refrigerator or freezer.

• A cool and dark cellar or storage room is NOT suitable for storing dates!

• Due to their high sugar content, dates never freeze completely and are therefore always ready to use, even when stored in the freezer.

• The best-before date varies depending on the product and storage temperature and is directly visible on the packaging (usually 6-12 months when stored in the refrigerator).

Find juicy organic dates in our bulk size here ! Buy sustainably in larger quantities and enjoy long-lasting snacking pleasure with proper storage. <3

Here you can find many more of our favorite healthy recipes.