Best Before, Use By & Jarred Foods: Reduce Food Waste

Best Before, Use By & Jarred Foods: Understanding Food Dates

Use-by dates and best-before dates are often misunderstood and lead to significant food waste.

Many products, especially sterilized foods in jars, remain perfectly safe to eat after the indicated date.

What is the difference between Use By and Best Before?

Use By date

The use-by date applies to highly perishable foods such as fresh meat or dairy products. After this date, consumption may pose a health risk, and selling these products is strictly prohibited.

Best Before date

The best-before date applies to long-life products such as canned foods, sauces and sterilized foods in jars. After this date, the product may lose some quality, but it remains safe to consume.

Sterilized jarred foods often remain edible for months or even years after the best-before date, provided they have been stored correctly.

Sterilized foods in jars: what to check

Jarred foods offer long shelf life and are ideal for a responsible and sustainable diet.

Checks before consumption

• The lid should not be bulging
• No leaks or rust
• No unusual smell when opened

If these conditions are met, the product is generally safe to consume.

Is it legal to sell food after the date?

• Use-by date exceeded: sale prohibited
• Best-before date exceeded: sale allowed

This is why jarred foods are commonly found in anti-food-waste and food clearance channels.

Short-dated products and food clearance

Food clearance involves selling products that are still safe to eat but removed from traditional retail channels, often due to a short best-before date or packaging changes.

These products are offered at reduced prices, sometimes with discounts of up to 50%.

Jarred foods and anti-waste supply chains

Thanks to their stability, sterilized foods in jars are particularly suitable for sustainable distribution models.

Why choose short-dated products?

Economic benefits

• 30% to 70% cheaper
• Identical product quality
• Reduced food waste

Sustainable consumption

Choosing short-dated jarred foods supports a sustainable and responsible way of consuming food.