The use-by date must be evaluated differently than the best before date. It is indicated on perishable foodstuffs with the words “use by …” and this is meant literally. It is not allowed to sell food which is beyond its use-by date. It actually needs to be discarded. It is thus important not to confuse use-by date and best before date. By contrast to the BBD, the use-by date exactly indicates up to which day the food item is allowed to be used. Easily perishable foodstuffs, for example minced meat or fresh poultry, can be spoiled by germs and can pose a health hazard that the consumer cannot perceive with his own senses. These food products must bear the use-by date. Above that, it is mandatory to comply with the storage regulations and to maintain the cooling chain during the transport from shop to home. Do not consume these products when they are past the use-by date!
The questions posed to consumer advice centers demonstrate that many persons are insecure about the meaning of the BBD – some consumers put the BBD on a level with the use-by date and consider it as “date of decay”. Consumer advice centers have the opinion that all labeling, including the BBD, should be easily understandable for consumers. Frequently, the BBD is hard to find on the products, concealed by labels or hardly legible. Therefore, some consumers notice the short durability of a food item not until after the purchase. The consumer advice centers complain that this misleads the consumers about the quality of the food with regard to the age of the product.