Food on the Use By Date

Can You Eat Food on the Use-By Date?

When it comes to food safety, understanding the significance of use-by dates is crucial. The use-by date is a strict deadline that ensures the food you’re consuming is safe. Unlike the best-before date, which relates to quality, the use-by date refers to food safety. Consuming food after this date can pose health risks, such as food poisoning, even if it looks and smells fine.

What is the Use-By Date?

The use-by date is used for highly perishable foods like meat, dairy products, and ready-to-eat meals. These foods tend to spoil faster and become unsafe to eat beyond this date due to microbial growth. You can safely consume food up to and on the use-by date, but not after. It’s important to follow any storage instructions carefully to ensure the food remains safe until that date.

Can You Eat Food on the Use-By Date?

Yes, you can eat food on the use-by date, but it’s critical to do so before the date passes. For example, if the use-by date on a product is September 6, you should consume the food before midnight on that day. If you’re not going to use the food by then, consider freezing it. Freezing food before the use-by date preserves its safety, but once defrosted, you should consume it quickly.

Why You Shouldn’t Eat Food After the Use-By Date

Food safety authorities strongly advise against eating food after its use-by date because harmful bacteria can develop, even if the food shows no obvious signs of spoilage. The sniff test or visual inspection is not a reliable way to determine whether food is safe to eat after the use-by date. For instance, pathogens like Listeria can grow without affecting the food’s smell or appearance.

How to Manage Use-By Dates

To reduce waste and make the most out of your food:

• Plan meals around products close to their use-by date.
• Freeze perishable foods before the use-by date if you’re not going to consume them in time.
• Always store food according to the package instructions to maximize its safety and longevity.

For more guidance on food safety, you can visit Food Standards Agency.

Make sure to check out the use-by guidelines on our site for additional tips!