Best-Before Date

A best-before date indicates the date until which a food retains its specific properties when stored correctly. Under EU food-labelling rules, it corresponds to the date of minimum durability and is expressed as “best before” or “best before end”.

It is different from a use-by date, which is used for foods that are highly perishable from a microbiological point of view. For packaged cheeses, the best-before date should be read together with the stated storage conditions and should not be confused with shelf life, which more broadly describes the expected storage life of the packaged product.