Date Marking on Food

Most pre-packed foods sold at retail level need some form of "durability marking" on them. There are not many exceptions to the rule. "Durability marking" is needed to make sure that customers eat food that is safe.

There are two forms of "durability marking" on food; "use by" and "best before". These terms will be explained later in the leaflet.

"Use by" dates

Food that has a very short shelf life, such as pates, pies, some yoghurts, cream cakes, meat and fish and some cheeses, should be marked with a "use by" date. It is an offence for any retailer to sell any food that has passed its "use by" date. They may be liable to prosecution and a fine for doing so.

Food that is sold past its "use by" date is food that is highly perishable and more likely to cause health problems if it has deteriorated. That is why it has a "use by" date marked on it rather than a "best before" date.

"Best before" dates

"Best before" dates are placed on less perishable items. Eating these after they have passed this date is not as likely to make you ill, but it could.

It is not an immediate offence to sell an item which has passed its "best before" date. Food that is sold past its "best before" date should not injure health. If it does, environmental health may take the retailer to court, where they may be fined.

"Best before" dates are a guide to customers as to how long a non-perishable item is safe to use. This is conditional on it being stored properly. If a food says it should be stored in a certain manner then you should do so.

Steps all parents should take to ensure their children are not harmed by the food they eat

There are a number of steps that parents can take to protect their children.

• Make sure that you buy food that has a reasonable "use by" or "best before" date on it
• Make sure that food kept in fridges and cupboards are frequently checked and the oldest stock moved to the front. The oldest items should be used first.
• Never provide an item that is past its "use by" date.
• Always follow instructions regarding how to store and cook the food.

If you have bought an item which is past its "use by" date contact us and we can look into the matter, if it is a shop in Salford. If it is a shop outside Salford, we can send your details to the relevant trading standards or environmental health department.

This page was last updated on 3 October 2009