Can You Drink Fresh Chilled Juice After the Use-By Date?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against FSA date labelling guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
No. Fresh chilled juice has a use-by date, which is about safety, not quality. Don't drink it after the date, even if it looks and smells fine.
Why the use-by date matters
A use-by date is a safety deadline. Fresh chilled juice has a short life. If it hasn't been heat-treated, it can carry bacteria that keep growing in the fridge, and fermentation can start. The date is how long the manufacturer has tested the food to be safe when stored as the label says. The FSA's advice is not to eat, cook or freeze food after its use-by date, since food can look and smell normal while it is unsafe. The date means 'up to and including' that day, provided the food has been kept as the label says. A best-before date, by contrast, is only about quality.
You can also check the calorie content of fresh chilled juice alongside its safety information.
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Common questions
Can I drink fresh chilled juice on the use-by date itself?
Yes: the use-by date is the last day it is safe, as long as it has been stored as the label says (usually in the fridge at 5°C or below) and, once opened, used within any 'use within' time on the pack. The day after, it is past the date.
It smells fine. Is the fresh chilled juice OK?
Not necessarily. The bacteria that use-by dates guard against don't announce themselves with a smell, look or taste.
What is the difference between use-by and best-before?
Use-by is about safety: do not eat after it. Best-before is about quality: the food is often fine after it, just past its best. Check which one is on your label.
Related answers
Primary source: FSA date labelling guidance.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.