Date labels

"Best before" date

Written by the VitaWhat editorial team · Medically reviewed by Steve Davis · Last reviewed 19 July 2026 · Editorial policy

A quality date — food is usually safe after it, just past its best.

Typical storage time: About quality, not safety — often fine after the date

Best for

  • Tinned, dried, frozen and long-life foods

Good to know

Use your senses: many foods (rice, pasta, tins) are safe well beyond best-before. Eggs are an exception — best used close to the date.

Sources & references

  1. UK Food Standards Agency — Storage & food dates
  2. NHS — How to store food safely
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