A quality date after which food may lose freshness but can still be legally sold and eaten if it remains fit.
Yes. Food past its best-before date may still be sold, provided it is not damaged, deteriorated or perished and remains fit for sale.
Often yes, if it has been stored correctly and remains in good condition. A best-before date is about quality, not safety, though quality may decline over time.
Foods with a longer shelf life, such as canned goods, biscuits, flour, cereals and many packaged staples, generally carry a best-before date.
Most packaged foods with a shelf life of two years or less need a date mark, but there are exemptions, such as bread with a shelf life of less than seven days.
A best-before date signals quality and food can still be sold and eaten after it if fit. A use-by date signals safety and food must not be sold or eaten after it.