A safety date after which food must not be sold or eaten, because it may become unsafe even if it looks fine.
No. Under Standard 1.2.5 of the Food Standards Code, food must not be sold after its use-by date, and doing so is generally an offence.
No. A use-by date is about safety, not appearance. Harmful bacteria may be present at unsafe levels even when the food looks, smells and tastes normal, so it should not be eaten.
A use-by date is about safety and food must not be eaten or sold after it. A best-before date is about quality, and food may still be sold and eaten after it if it is fit for consumption.
The date on the label assumes storage as directed. If a label permits freezing, freezing before the use-by date can extend safe life, but businesses should follow the manufacturer instructions and their own food safety program.
Perishable, potentially hazardous foods such as fresh meat, poultry, seafood, dairy and ready-to-eat chilled meals commonly carry a use-by date because they can become unsafe over time.