Which food must carry a use by date?
Rachel Hernandez
Published Mar 18, 2026
Which food must carry a use by date?
‘Use by’ dates refer to safety and are the required form of date mark for foods considered to be highly perishable from a microbiological point of view. This largely means fresh and chilled foods, such as raw meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, fruit and vegetables.
Do all foods have a use by date?
You must not use any food or drink after the end of the “use by” date on the label. Even if it looks and smells fine, that doesn’t mean it’s safe to eat. Using it even a short time after this date could put your health at risk. If a food can be frozen, its life can be extended beyond the “use by” date.
What is the sell-by date on a food label?
Sell-By: This label is aimed retailers, and it informs them of the date by which the product should be sold or removed from shelf life. This does not mean that the product is unsafe to consume after the date. Typically one-third of a product’s shelf-life remains after the sell-by date for the consumer to use at home.
What items have expiration dates?
19 Surprising Things That Can Actually Expire
- Potatoes. Joerg Mikus / Getty Images.
- Bleach (and Other Disinfectants) Lana Langlois / Getty Images.
- Sunscreen. Farakos / Getty Images.
- Power Strips and Surge Protectors. Helder Almeida / Getty Images.
- Spices. Svetl / Getty Images.
- Fire Extinguishers.
- Car Seats.
- Mascara.
Why are use by dates important?
Use-by dates are about safety A use-by date on food is about safety. This is the most important date to remember. After the use-by date, don’t eat, cook or freeze your food. The food could be unsafe to eat or drink, even if it has been stored correctly and looks and smells fine.
Is the use by date the expiration date?
A “Use-By” date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date except for when used on infant formula as described below. A “Freeze-By” date indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
What do you mean by use by date?
Are sell by dates expiration dates?
The “Sell By Date” on a product is the items expiration date, the end of its shelf life at the store. Although the food product may be used and enjoyed past this date, it is not recommended to purchase a product if the Sell By date has past. This date is not as common as a best-by date.
Can food expiration date codes?
Remember, the code stamped on the can is when it was packaged. Many canned products now have a “for best quality use by” date stamped on the top or bottom of the can. “Expiration” dates are rarely found on canned food. Canned food has a shelf life of at least two years from the date of processing.
Which food has no expiry date?
12 Non-Perishable Foods That Really Never Expire
- Black beans.
- Black-eyed peas.
- Cannellini beans (white kidney beans)
- Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
- Great Northern beans.
- Kidney beans.
- Lentils.
- Lima beans.