⚕️ General information only — not medical advice. If pregnant or unwell, always follow the guidance of your midwife, GP or NHS 111. Full disclaimer

Use-By & Best-Before Dates

Use-by is a safety deadline; best-before is a quality suggestion. Which is which, food by food.

Date labels are only half the story of what's on a label — decode the rest with our food additive checker.

Browse all answers

🟡Eggs🔴Chicken🔴Raw Chicken🔴Mince🔴Beef🔴Pork🔴Lamb🔴Steak🔴Sausages🔴Bacon🔴Fish🔴Salmon🔴Smoked Salmon🔴Prawns🔴Milk🔴Cream🔴Yoghurt🔴Soft Cheese🟢Hard Cheese🔴Cooked Ham🔴Deli Meat🔴Pâté🔴Hummus🔴Coleslaw🔴Bagged Salad🔴Ready Meals🔴Fresh Pasta🔴Quiche🔴Chilled Dips🔴Tofu (Chilled)🔴Fresh Chilled Juice🟢Bread🟢Dried Pasta🟢Dried Rice🟢Flour🟢Sugar🟢Cereal🟢Porridge Oats🟢Biscuits🟢Crisps🟢Chocolate🟢Tinned Food🟢Tea Bags🟢Coffee🟢Honey🟢Jam🟢Dried Herbs & Spices🟢Stock Cubes🟢Olive Oil🟢Vinegar🟢Mustard🟢Soy Sauce🟢Peanut Butter🟢Frozen Food

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Waste less, safely

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Fridge thermometer

Date labels assume 0–5°C — many home fridges quietly run warmer.

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Airtight storage containers

Opened food lasts longest sealed properly, not in a folded-over packet.

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Bread bin

Cool, dark and ventilated — bread's best-before does more work in one.

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The information on 247foodcheck.com is compiled from official public guidance (NHS, Food Standards Agency, USDA/FDA FoodKeeper) and is provided for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace guidance from your midwife, GP, health visitor or other qualified professional. When in doubt, throw it out — and if you feel unwell after eating something, contact NHS 111 or your doctor.