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Use-by vs best-before dates in Australia

Understand which food date marks relate to safety, what quality means, and when opened packs need new precautions.

Australia · FSANZ · NSW Food Authority

In Australia, a use-by date is different from a best-before date. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) explains that use-by labels mark a safety or health limit and food should not be eaten after the date. Best-before dates mainly describe expected quality; an item may remain suitable afterwards only when correctly stored and still fit to eat.

Use-by means a safety decision

Do not eat food past a use-by date. A normal smell, colour or appearance cannot show that bacteria have remained at safe levels. Follow the storage and preparation instructions on the label.

Best-before describes quality

Food past its best-before date may lose flavour or texture. It is not automatically unsafe, but condition, packaging, past storage and spoilage still matter. Do not treat a damaged pack as safe merely because the date is recent.

After opening, follow different instructions

Use-by and best-before markings assume the food has been stored as directed. If the label says refrigerate or use within a particular period after opening, those conditions take priority.

What to do, step by step

  1. Identify the exact wording printed next to the date before making a decision.
  2. Check whether the food requires refrigeration, freezing or a specific cooking method.
  3. Discard items past their use-by date regardless of their appearance.
  4. For best-before products, evaluate correct storage and signs of deterioration; discard doubtful foods.
  5. After opening, read the special instructions and record when the pack was first opened if useful.

Why a jar and fresh chicken are different

An unopened dry product can have a best-before date aimed at maintaining quality. A highly perishable chilled product may have a use-by date aimed at health protection. The same numerical calendar day cannot be interpreted in the same way for both.

Australian official sources

Guidance for Australia from FSANZ and NSW Food Authority. Read the original conditions, particularly for temperature and elapsed time:

Country scope: Australian consumer advice. The 2018 USDA FoodKeeper values have not been reused as Australian safety deadlines.