Two food packs carry the same date, but one says “use by” and the other “best before”. Treating them as identical can either create an avoidable safety risk or lead to unnecessary waste.
UK food guidance distinguishes the two. A use-by date concerns safety; a best-before date concerns quality. The Food Standards Agency’s household guidance explains why food past a use-by date should not be judged safe by appearance or smell.
Read the whole storage instruction
The date assumes the product has been stored as directed. Opening a pack can introduce another instruction, such as a shorter period for consumption. Neither a future printed date nor an intact-looking package excuses a break in the required storage conditions.
For best-before foods, quality may decline after the date, but suitability still depends on the product, storage and signs of spoilage. The distinction is not permission to eat damaged, contaminated or visibly spoiled food.
Prevent the deadline problem earlier
When unpacking shopping, place foods with earlier use-by dates where you will notice them. Plan meals around what can be used in time. If a food is suitable for freezing, follow its instructions and freeze before the safety deadline rather than waiting until it has passed.
As a simple household example, label a freezer portion with what it is and when it was frozen. Keep the thawing and cooking instructions available. Freezing changes the storage plan; it does not make every food indefinitely suitable under any conditions.
Check local guidance if you live elsewhere, because label terminology and rules can differ. The practical habit is consistent: identify what the date means, preserve the required storage conditions and make a plan before food reaches its limit. Waste reduction works best when it prevents food becoming unsafe, rather than asking a smell test to overrule a safety label.