Best Before Date and Expiration Date
Interlink編集部What Are Best Before and Use By Dates?
Best Before and Use By dates are part of a system that indicates the period during which food safety and quality are maintained when the food is stored under specified conditions.
Food labeling requires either a Best Before date or a Use By date to be displayed, depending on the nature of the product. Both indicate dates, but their meanings are not the same.
The Best Before date indicates the period during which the expected quality is considered to be maintained when stored as directed. In contrast, the Use By date signifies the period during which the food is recognized as not posing a safety risk when stored as directed.
In actual logistics practice, it is easier to think of the Best Before date as a "quality-related deadline" and the Use By date as a "safety-related deadline."
Scope Covered in This Article
| Topic | Focus in This Article | Related Topics to Be Checked Separately |
|---|---|---|
| Basics of Best Before and Use By Dates | Clarifies the differences between quality retention and safety-related deadlines. | The overall food labeling system is covered in the articles on the Food Labeling Act and Food Labeling Standards. |
| Choosing Which Date to Display | Organizes considerations based on the food's nature, rate of spoilage, storage method, microbial risk, and distribution period. | Individual product date-setting should be confirmed with manufacturers, importers, experts, and relevant authorities. |
| Relation to Overseas Labeling | Clarifies common misinterpretations of terms like Best Before, Use By, Expiry Date, Manufacturing Date, etc. | Country-specific labeling practices and manufacturer-specific labeling should be confirmed with overseas manufacturers. |
| Misreading Date Formats | Organizes practical incidents resulting from date order differences such as MM/DD/YY, DD/MM/YY, and YYYY/MM/DD. | Relations among lot numbers, production date, packaging date, and expiration date should be checked through individual references. |
| Storage Conditions and Date Display | Explains relationships between storage conditions—such as ambient temperature, refrigeration, freezing, refrigeration after opening—and expiration dates. | Temperature deviations, cargo incidents, insurance responses, and quality evaluations are addressed as separate issues. |
| Practical Aspects of Imported Food | Organizes considerations on overseas labels, rationale for date settings, transport and storage conditions, and reflection on Japanese labels. | Import notification, Food Sanitation Act compliance, customs clearance, and labeling processes are covered in separate articles. |
| Advertising and Sales Labeling | Summarizes points of caution for near-expiry products, e-commerce sales, set sales, gift sales, and discount sales. | The Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, misrepresentation of quality, and sales condition labeling are separate regulatory issues. |
Purpose and Background of the System
Best Before and Use By dates are important indicators enabling consumers to safely and appropriately select, store, and consume food. Food date labeling is not just about stating a date, but communicates under which storage conditions and until when the quality or safety of the food can be ensured.
Food quality and safety change over time due to factors such as elapsed time after production, storage temperature, packaging state, microbial growth, oxidation, drying, moisture absorption, and flavor changes. Therefore, depending on the characteristics of the food, it is necessary to differentiate between the use of the Best Before date, which emphasizes quality retention, and the Use By date, which prioritizes safety.
For imported foods, simply translating the dates on overseas labels into Japanese is insufficient. It is necessary to verify the meaning of the overseas terms, date format, storage conditions, basis for date settings, and distribution conditions after arrival in Japan, and then organize these for display suitable for the Japanese market.
Situations Where Date Labeling Applies
| Situation | Points to Check | Common Issues | Practical Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| When selling processed foods domestically | Packaging, food label, storage conditions, expiration dates | Mistakes in choosing between Best Before and Use By dates | Confirm the date labeling based on the food's nature and storage conditions. |
| When selling perishable foods | Bento boxes, prepared foods, fresh pastries, sandwiches, fresh delicatessen items, etc. | Underestimating safety-related deadlines | Carefully confirm whether the Use By date should be applied. |
| When selling long-shelf-life foods | Confectionery, canned goods, retort pouch foods, dried foods, beverages, etc. | Confusing quality deterioration deadlines with safety deadlines | Even with Best Before dates, credibility issues in sales management may arise. |
| When selling imported foods | Overseas labels, production date, expiration date, Best Before, Use By, etc. | Misreading the meaning of overseas terms and date formats | Confirm the meaning of the dates and their format with overseas manufacturers. |
| When handling refrigerated or frozen foods | Storage temperature, transport temperature, temperature records, presence of temperature deviations | Judging sale eligibility based solely on the displayed date | Date labeling should be checked assuming that storage conditions have been maintained. |
| When selling near-expiry products | e-commerce pages, in-store displays, discount labeling, remaining shelf life | Selling under regular labeling that causes consumer misunderstanding | Clearly indicate the near expiry status, remaining shelf life at shipment, and storage method. |
| When conducting set sales or gift sales | Deadlines of multiple products, shortest expiration date, arrival date, safe consumption period | Overlooking that some items in the set may have shorter expiration dates | Base sales display on the product with the earliest expiry date. |
Application Requirements and Common Exceptions
| Category | Description | Points to Check | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Items prone to expiry date labeling | Packaged processed foods sold to consumers. | Confirm food classification, sales form, packaging, and storage method. | Check as labeling requirements under food labeling standards. |
| Items often labeled with Best Before | Foods with relatively slow quality deterioration. | Check quality changes, shelf life, packaging type, and storage conditions. | Not necessarily immediately hazardous after expiration, but caution required for sales management. |
| Items often labeled with Use By | Foods where quality deteriorates rapidly and safety is significantly affected. | Confirm microbial risk, spoilage risk, refrigeration management, and short-term sales. | Avoid sale or consumption after the expiration date. |
| Imported foods whose overseas labeling cannot be used as is | Imported foods labeled with Best Before, Use By, Expiry Date, Manufacturing Date, etc. | Check the meaning of the date, date format, and whether it is manufacturing or expiry date. | Avoid replacing only based on the English terms without considering their meanings in Japanese labeling. |
| Cases where expiry labeling premise is disrupted | Refrigerated or frozen products with temperature deviations. | Confirm transport temperature, storage temperature, temperature records, and duration of deviation. | The quality assurance premise may be invalid even if the labeled expiration date remains. |
| Items not easily classified as exempt | Samples, commercial-use foods, event sales items, sets, opened products, etc. | Check sales target, provision method, packaging, and responsible labeling party. | Labeling or explanation may be necessary depending on the actual condition. |
| Items requiring caution in sales labeling | Close-to-expiry items, imperfect goods, discounted items, pre-orders, and gift products. | Confirm expiration date, remaining shelf life, storage method, delivery days, and sales conditions. | Label to avoid consumer misinterpretation as regular products. |
Differences Between Best Before and Use By Dates
The difference between Best Before and Use By dates is not simply a matter of "longer or shorter." They differ in the nature of food deterioration, impact on safety, and risks after expiry.
| Category | Meaning | Common Food Types | View After Expiry | Practical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Before | The period during which the expected quality is sufficiently maintained when stored under prescribed conditions. | Confectionery, cup noodles, canned foods, seasonings, retort foods, beverages, etc. | Safety is not necessarily compromised immediately after the date. | Consider quality deterioration, flavor decline, texture changes, discoloration, and sales reputation. |
| Use By | The period during which safety is not expected to be compromised when stored under prescribed conditions. | Bento boxes, prepared foods, fresh confectionery, sandwiches, fresh deli items, highly perishable foods, etc. | Food past this date should be avoided for sale or consumption from a safety perspective. | Set based on microbial growth, spoilage, food poisoning risk, prioritizing safety. |
Determining Which Date to Display
Choosing whether to display Best Before or Use By depends on the food’s characteristics, rate of deterioration, storage method, distribution period, and microbial risk.
| Check Items | Likely Best Before | Likely Use By | Key Practical Judgments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate of quality deterioration | Quality declines relatively slowly. | Quality and safety decline rapidly. | Separate considerations for quality maintenance vs. safety. |
| Main risks | Flavor loss, texture changes, color changes, aroma deterioration, etc. | Spoilage, microbial growth, food poisoning risks, etc. | Carefully confirm Use By for foods with high microbial risk. |
| Storage conditions | Often shelf-stable, long-term storage or cool/dark places. | Often refrigerated with short sales duration and careful temperature control. | Check storage methods and expiry label together. |
| Sales management | Discount sales of close-to-expiry stock sometimes occurs. | Strict expiry management, avoiding sales after expiration. | Manage remaining shelf life in sales points and e-commerce labeling. |
| Consumer explanation | Often explained as the period during which food can be enjoyed at its best. | Often explained as the period during which food is safe to eat. | Ensure consumers do not misunderstand the two as the same. |
Common Problems with Overseas Date Labeling on Imported Foods
For imported foods, the date labels on overseas packaging cannot always be used as-is for Japanese labeling. This is because countries and manufacturers differ in the meaning of the dates, display formats, and terminology usage.
In particular, terms like Best Before, Use By, Expiry Date, Expiration Date, Manufacturing Date, and Production Date are prone to misinterpretation.
| Overseas Labeling | General Meaning | Relation to Japanese Labeling | Practical Confirmation Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Before | Often indicates the date until which quality is maintained. | Frequently treated as a concept close to the “賞味期限” (best before date). | Do not mechanically convert to “賞味期限” but check the meaning according to the country and manufacturer. |
| Use By | Often indicates the date by which the product should be used or consumed safely. | Often treated as a concept close to the “消費期限” (use-by date). | For perishable foods, carefully confirm whether it should be treated as a “消費期限”. |
| Expiry Date / Expiration Date | Often indicates the date of expiry, use-by, or invalidation. | Could correspond to either the “賞味期限” or “消費期限”. | Confirm with the manufacturer whether it refers to a quality date or a safety-related date. |
| Manufacturing Date / Production Date | Often indicates the manufacturing or production date. | Is not itself the best before or use-by date. | Be careful not to mistake the manufacturing date for an expiry date. |
| Packed Date / Packing Date | Often indicates the packaging or filling date. | Often is not an expiry date. | Confirm to avoid confusing manufacturing date, packaging date, shipping date, or expiry date. |
Be Careful of Date Order
The most common practical error in importing foods is misreading the date.
For instance, a label reading “03/04/2026” might be interpreted as March 4, 2026, or April 3, 2026, depending on the country or date format.
| Example | Reading | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03/04/2026 | Month / Day / Year | March 4, 2026 | Used in the U.S. date format. |
| 03/04/2026 | Day / Month / Year | April 3, 2026 | Used in European, Commonwealth countries, and some others. |
| 2026/04/03 | Year / Month / Day | April 3, 2026 | This format is easy to understand in Japan but is not always common on overseas labels. |
| 04.2026 | Month-Year or Year-Month | April 2026, or possibly another meaning | If the day is omitted, check whether it is valid until the end of the month or if a specific day applies. |
Why the Basis for Expiry Dates is Important
Best before and use-by dates are not simply transcriptions of overseas label dates. The party responsible for labeling in Japan must have a reasonable basis for the date display.
Expiry date setting takes into account factors such as food characteristics, raw materials, manufacturing methods, packaging form, storage conditions, transit duration, microbiological tests, physicochemical analyses, and sensory evaluations.
For imported foods, dates set by overseas manufacturers can sometimes be used directly, but considering transit time to Japan, temperature control, bonded storage, domestic warehouse storage, label application, and the period until sales start, domestic expiry date management may need revision.
Relationship Between Storage Conditions and Expiry Dates
Best before and use-by dates must be checked together with storage conditions.
For example, expiry dates are set under storage conditions such as “Avoid direct sunlight and store at room temperature,” “Keep refrigerated,” “Store below 10°C,” or “Store frozen.”
| Storage Condition | Relation to Expiry Dates | Practical Points | Checks in Case of Issues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Room Temperature Storage | Expiry dates are set assuming normal ambient temperature distribution. | Be cautious of high heat and humidity, direct sunlight, and container temperature rise. | Check temperature conditions during transport and warehouse storage. |
| Refrigerated Storage | Expiry dates are set assuming controlled low temperature. | Temperature records during transport, warehouse, and domestic delivery are important. | Verify temperature logs, handover times, delivery delays, and any redelivery. |
| Frozen Storage | Expiry dates are set assuming frozen conditions are maintained. | Thawing, refreezing, and temperature deviations undermine quality guarantees even if expiry date remains. | Check duration of temperature deviations, frost buildup, thaw traces, and refreeze marks. |
| Keep Refrigerated After Opening | Storage conditions differ before and after opening. | Confirm handling instructions after opening and consumer advisories. | Check opening time, storage conditions, and usage status. |
Comparison Table With Other Systems and Related Practices
| System / Practice | Main Purpose | Main Points to Check | Relationship to Expiry Date Display | Practical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Before Date / Use By Date | Indicates the date until which the quality or safety of food is maintained. | Expiry date, storage method, food characteristics, basis for setting the date | This is the expiration date displayed on the food label itself. | Should be checked together with storage conditions. |
| Food Labeling Act / Food Labeling Standards | A system that defines the basic rules for all food labeling. | Name, ingredients, additives, allergens, expiry date display, storage method, etc. | The expiry date display is an important labeling item under the Food Labeling Standards. | Not only the expiry date but also storage method and the person responsible for labeling should be checked. |
| Country of Origin Labeling for Raw Materials | A system to indicate the origin of raw materials to consumers. | Raw materials, origin, manufacturing location, raw materials subject to labeling | Although the purpose differs from expiry date display, they must be managed consistently on the same food label. | When creating labels, expiry date and other labeling should be checked simultaneously. |
| Allergen Labeling | Labeling to prevent health damage caused by allergies. | Specified raw materials, ingredient listing, manufacturing process, contamination | As with use-by dates, this is safety-related important labeling. | Since mislabeling could cause health harm, it must be strictly managed just like expiry date display. |
| Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations (Premiums and Representations Act) | A system to prevent misleading representations causing consumer misunderstanding. | Sales pages, advertisements, price displays, labeling of near-expiry products | Representing near-expiry products as regular stock could cause issues. | Clearly indicate that the item is near expiry, the reason for discounts, and remaining shelf life. |
| Cargo Insurance & Temperature Control | Practice to confirm incidence of accidents, temperature deviations, or quality degradation during transportation. | Temperature records, transportation conditions, storage conditions, cargo condition, accident segments | Even if the expiry date remains valid, a break in temperature control undermines the assumption of quality guarantee. | Do not judge saleability or damage solely by the expiry date display. |
Application Flow of the System
- Confirm whether the target food is packaged food, for consumer sale, or for business use.
- Check the nature of the food, deterioration speed, microbiological risk, and storage method.
- Organize whether it should be treated as a Best Before or Use By date.
- For imported foods, confirm what overseas label corresponds to (Best Before, Use By, Expiry Date, Manufacturing Date, etc.).
- Verify the date format: month-day-year, day-month-year, or year-month-day.
- Check whether the date indicates expiry date, manufacturing date, packaging date, shipping date, or lot number.
- Confirm the basis for setting the expiry date, including storage conditions, test data, manufacturing date, and allowable storage period.
- Reflect the Best Before or Use By date on the Japanese label and verify that there are no transcription errors.
- For refrigerated/frozen items, confirm that temperature control during transport and storage aligns with the expiry date assumptions.
- Verify on sales pages, near-expiry items, bundled sales, and discount displays that there is no consumer misunderstanding.
Common Problem Cases in Practice
| Case | Issues | Items to Check | Practical Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanically converting Best Before into Best Before Date | The meaning of the notation may differ by country or manufacturer. | Meaning of the notation, manufacturer’s explanation, storage conditions, basis for expiry setting | Confirm meaning with the overseas manufacturer and organize it for Japanese labeling. |
| Handling Use By as Best Before Date | There is a risk of treating a safety-related date as a quality date. | Nature of the food, microbiological risk, storage method, meaning of overseas notation | Carefully confirm whether it should be handled as a Use By date. |
| Misunderstanding manufacturing date for expiry date | Manufacturing Date or Production Date may be mistaken for expiration date. | Manufacturing date, expiry date, permissible storage period, lot number | Confirm the allowable storage period from manufacturing date and clarify the expiry date. |
| Misreading the date 03/04/2026 | The difference between month-day-year and day-month-year formats may cause nearly one month difference. | Date format, country, manufacturer confirmation, original label | Confirm date format and record it when creating labels. |
| Judging only by expiry date despite temperature deviations | For refrigerated/frozen goods, even if the expiry date remains valid, quality guarantee assumptions may be invalid if temperature control breaks. | Temperature records, deviation duration, storage conditions, cargo condition, quality check | Check saleability with importer or quality personnel. |
| Selling near-expiry products like regular stock | Consumers may misunderstand remaining shelf life, causing claims or returns. | Expiry date, remaining shelf life, sales page, reason for discount, expected shipping date | Clearly display that the product is near expiry. |
| Only part of a set product has a short expiry date | The sales display for the entire set may differ from the actual usable period. | Expiry date of each product, shortest expiry date, gift purpose, delivery time | Check sales display based on the shortest expiry date. |
| Date transcription errors during label attachment | Separation between importer's decisions and warehouse operations can cause labeling errors. | Label draft, attachment instructions, work records, final verifier | Separate responsibility for display judgment and work, and implement double checks. |
Practical Scenario 1: Displaying Best Before as Best Before Date
For example, there are cases where imported confectionery with a label from the overseas manufacturer stating "Best Before 03/04/2026" is intended to be displayed as an expiration date for sale in Japan.
In this case, the first thing to confirm is whether "Best Before" means the quality retention period according to that manufacturer. Although it is generally treated as a concept close to the expiration date, its interpretation may differ depending on the country and manufacturer.
Next, it is important to confirm whether 03/04/2026 follows the month/day/year or day/month/year format. Mistaking this can lead to differences between March 4, 2026, and April 3, 2026, which affect the saleable period and inventory management.
The importer should record the results of inquiries to the overseas manufacturer, the date format, the basis for setting the expiration date, and storage methods, then reflect these on the Japanese label. Even if the freight forwarder or warehouse applies the label, the decision on the expiration date display should be made by the importer, while the operational side should apply the labels according to those instructions.
Practical Scenario 2: Temperature Deviations Occur with Frozen Foods
In the import of frozen foods, although the labeled expiration date remains valid, temperature deviations may occur during transportation or storage.
In such cases, simply having time remaining on the displayed date does not allow for judging quality or safety. Expiration or best-before dates are set on the premise that the specified storage conditions are maintained. If freezing conditions are not maintained, this premise may no longer hold.
In actual logistics practice, temperature records, duration of deviations, cargo condition, packaging condition, signs of thawing or refreezing, and the need for quality inspection are checked. If necessary, confirmation is obtained from the importer, quality personnel, overseas manufacturer, insurer, or inspection agency.
In such situations, freight forwarders and warehouses should not make definitive statements on whether the product is fit for sale. The logistics side should document and organize factual information and provide material to assist the importer or quality managers in making a judgment.
Practical Scenario 3: Discount Sales of Near-Expiry Products on E-Commerce Sites
There are cases where imported foods close to their expiration dates are sold at a discount on e-commerce platforms. In such cases, merely applying a discount without further explanation may cause consumers to mistakenly believe that the remaining shelf life is the same as for regular products.
The sales page should clearly display the expiration date, remaining shelf life at the time of shipment, storage instructions, and the reason for the discount. This is especially important when multiple products are sold as a set, as the product with the shortest expiration date becomes a critical issue.
For example, if only some items in a set have near-expiry dates but the entire set is sold like a regular gift set, the short consumption period after receipt may result in complaints.
When selling near-expiry products, it is also important to consider the risk of consumer misunderstanding under the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, making sure to clearly specify the reason for discount, expiration date, remaining shelf life, and expected delivery date.
Points Freight Forwarders and Importers Should Be Aware Of
Freight forwarders and customs brokers are generally not in a position to set expiration or best-before dates. However, in arranging imported foods, they may become involved with overseas labels, invoices, packing lists, food notifications, temperature management conditions, and label application operations.
In logistics practice, it is important not to copy overseas label dates directly onto Japanese labels, to confirm the meanings of Best Before, Use By, Expiry Date, and Manufacturing Date with the importer, and to prevent misreading the date order (month/day/year, day/month/year, year/month/day).
For refrigerated or frozen products, it is necessary to confirm the relationship between temperature management conditions and expiration display. Even if the displayed expiration date is still valid, if there are temperature deviations or long-term storage, whether the product can be sold should be confirmed with the importer or quality control staff.
4-Column Judgment Checklist
| Situation | Person to Check | Items to Confirm | Action If Problems Occur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before selling imported foods | Importer, overseas manufacturer, labeling responsible party | Food category, storage method, type of expiration display, basis for expiration setting | Confirm whether it is a best-before or use-by date and revise the display plan as needed. |
| When checking overseas labels | Overseas manufacturer, importer, labeling responsible party | Best Before, Use By, Expiry Date, Manufacturing Date, Packed Date | Do not translate terms literally; confirm meaning and basis. |
| When confirming date formats | Overseas manufacturer, importer, warehouse, labeling responsible party | Month/Day/Year, Day/Month/Year, Year/Month/Day, lot number, manufacturing date, expiration date | Record judgment results to prevent transcription errors when creating labels. |
| When confirming storage methods | Overseas manufacturer, importer, logistics company, warehouse | Room temperature, refrigerated, frozen, refrigerated after opening, temperature conditions | Ensure there is no contradiction between expiration display and storage method. |
| When performing refrigerated or frozen transport | Freight forwarder, warehouse, delivery company, importer | Temperature records, presence of deviations, storage period, delivery conditions | Do not judge saleability solely based on expiration date if temperature deviations occur. |
| When carrying out label application work | Importer, warehouse, logistics company, labeling responsible party | Label drafts, application instructions, target lot, expiration date, final approver | Separate responsibility for display judgment and operational execution; implement double checks. |
| When selling near-expiry products | Importer, sales staff, e-commerce staff, warehouse | Expiration date, remaining shelf life, reason for discount, planned shipment, sales page display | Clearly indicate to consumers that the product is near expiry. |
| When selling sets or gift products | Sales staff, warehouse, importer, e-commerce staff | Expiration date of each item, shortest expiration date, arrival date, storage method, delivery days | Review sales conditions based on the shortest expiration date. |
Common Misunderstandings
| Misunderstanding | Correct Understanding | Practical Notes |
|---|---|---|
| It is acceptable to sell products past the best-before date if they are safe. | The best-before date is a quality retention deadline. Selling products after this date involves quality assurance, accountability for explanations, customer standards, and trust issues. | Manage so that expired products are not sold casually. |
| Simply use the Best Before date as the best-before date. | Best Before is often used with a meaning similar to best-before date, but the application varies by country and product. | Confirm the meaning and basis with the overseas manufacturer. |
| The manufacturing date can be treated as the expiration date. | Manufacturing Date or Production Date refers to the production day and is often not the same as the best-before or expiry date. | Confirm the shelf life from the manufacturing date. |
| The date format order is obvious by looking at it. | Displays such as 03/04/2026 can be read as March 4 or April 3 depending on the country. | Always confirm and document the date format. |
| Quality is guaranteed as long as the displayed expiration date remains. | The displayed expiration assumes that the prescribed storage conditions have been complied with. | Check for any temperature deviations in refrigerated or frozen products. |
| If the logistics company applies the label, it means the logistics company has also judged the expiration date. | The responsibility for label application and judgment of the expiration date are separate. | Separate the importer's judgment on labeling from the warehouse’s operational responsibility. |
| Near-expiry products sold at a discount do not require explanation. | Even with discounts, if the near-expiry status or remaining shelf life is difficult to understand, consumers may be misled. | Clearly state the expiration date, remaining shelf life at shipment, and storage method. |
Practical Points
When checking best-before and expiry dates, it is important first to confirm the food’s nature and storage method, and then clarify whether the deadline is for quality retention or safety.
For imported food, after verifying overseas label notation, date format, manufacturing date, expiration date, storage conditions, and the basis for deadline settings, it is necessary to determine the displayed content according to Japanese food labeling standards.
Especially for refrigerated and frozen products, expiration dates assume temperature management has been maintained. If there are temperature deviations during transportation or storage, even if the displayed deadline remains, the basis for quality assurance could be compromised.
Importance of Record Keeping
For best-before and expiry dates, it is crucial to record on what basis the deadline was displayed. For imported foods, documentation such as overseas manufacturer responses, date formats, deadline setting rationale, storage methods, manufacturing and expiration dates, and reflection on Japanese labels should be preserved.
Materials to retain include overseas labels, manufacturer confirmation emails, explanation documents for manufacturing and expiry dates, storage condition documents, test data, temperature records, transport conditions, label drafts, application instructions, work records, e-commerce page displays, and sales conditions for near-expiry products.
Having such records makes it easier to explain the basis for the expiration date and how dates are read. Conversely, if records are lacking, even if the display itself is correct, explaining it later may be difficult.
Summary
The best-before date is the period during which the expected quality is sufficiently maintained when stored under prescribed conditions. The expiry date is the period during which safety is not expected to be compromised when stored under prescribed conditions.
For imported foods, foreign labels such as Best Before, Use By, Expiry Date, Manufacturing Date, etc. should not be simply translated; their meanings, date formats, storage requirements, and how deadlines were set need to be verified.
Deadline display is not only about the date printed on the label. Confirming storage methods, transportation and storage conditions, temperature control, sales methods, and advertising details together helps prevent practical incidents related to expiration date display.
