Coffee: Every Food Safety Answer
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS, FSA and USDA FoodKeeper guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
This page pulls together the 4 coffee answers on the site: what the date on the label means, where it stands in pregnancy and what applies while breastfeeding. The table gives the short answer for each; the page behind each row gives the full reasoning, the source and the exceptions.
In pregnancy: Coffee is fine during pregnancy in moderation — the NHS says to keep your total caffeine below 200mg a day (about 2 cups of instant coffee).
Quick answers
| Question | Short answer | Full answer |
|---|---|---|
| Can you drink it when pregnant? | 🟡 Limit — 200mg caffeine a day | Coffee when pregnant? |
| While breastfeeding? | 🟡 Keep caffeine low | Coffee when breastfeeding? |
| Past the date on the label? | 🟢 Yes — best before is about quality | Coffee after its use-by date? |
More on coffee: pregnancy
Questions people ask about coffee
Each question is answered in full on the page it links to.
Similar foods in pregnancy
Related foods and topics
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General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.