best by date
Optimal consumption cutoff
A best by date is the date printed on food packaging indicating when the product will be at peak quality.
Unlike expiration dates, best by dates are about freshness rather than safety—food is usually still safe to eat after this date, just potentially less flavorful or textured: The yogurt is past its best by date but still fine.
Also called best before date.
- expirationEnd of validity
- freshnessState of being unspoiled
- shelf lifeUsable storage duration
- sell byMerchant's deadline date
- use byConsume-before indicator
stale · perishable · pantry · grocery shopping · label · grocery · milk · bread · mold · refrigerate · stamped · packaging · consume · quality · supermarket · expired · toss · food waste
- product labelsingredient list, warning labels, safety labels, warning label, nutrition facts
- Food Freshnessfreshness, spoilage, shelf life, perishable, rot
- food labelsnutrition facts, ingredient list, ingredients, ingredients list, calories
- food industryrestaurants, eateries, fast food, cafeterias, catering
- nutrition labelingcalories, serving size, fat content, sodium, protein
- nutrition labelsnutrition facts, vitamins, protein, fat, sugar
temporal freshness indication
best by dateexpiration date
Final day of validity
use by date · sell by date · rotten · spoiled · perished