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Food Safety - Read the Label

As part of Food Safety Week the Food and Drink Federation is highlighting the importance of reading labels to ensure the food you are eating is safe.

The key is to examine the 'Use By' and 'Best Before' dates on packs. It is important to recognise that these are used on foods with different storage requirements:

• 'Use By' dates are used on highly perishable foods which 'go off' quite quickly. No-one likes to waste food but it can be dangerous to eat foods past their 'Use By' date.
• 'Best before' dates are for foods with a longer life. They indicate how long the food will be at its best quality.

Other labels that are sometimes put on food products are 'Sell By' and 'Display Until' dates. These are generally put on products by supermarkets for stock rotation purposes, and should not be confused with 'Use By' and 'Best Before' dates, which are to inform consumers about the shelf life of products and the safe period within which a product should be eaten.

More Information

• Food Standards Agency Website: Keeping food safe