Best before date & expiry date
In Sweden, we use two different date labels for food products. The best-before date is a quality label that indicates how long the producer can guarantee that the product will maintain its quality, i.e. taste, color, crispness, elasticity and chewability. This means that after the best before date, the quality may eventually deteriorate. But the food can still be perfectly edible. In other words, the best-before date is not a label that tells the consumer that the product is in any way dangerous to eat after the expiry date.
Expiry date is a safety label that indicates the last day the product can be sold or given away and you should not eat the product after the expiry date as it may be harmful to your health.
Who decides the date?
It is always the person responsible for the food, usually the manufacturer or packer, who determines the expected shelf life of the product. The date label is often associated with storage instructions. Everyone who handles the food, from the producer to the retailer, is responsible for ensuring that it is safe and that it is transported and stored as instructed.
For most foods, there are no laws governing shelf life. The assessment for the date label is based on shelf life tests and experience of the producer and are considered as recommendations.
Can you sell goods after their expiry date?
As food is often perfectly safe to eat and poses no health risk after the expiry date, it is allowed to sell products that have "expired". The seller has the right to assess whether the food is still edible. It is normally not allowed to relabel foods with date labels.
If the food is considered to be in good condition, it may be used by the shop to prepare and sell the food as ready-to-eat. If the pre-prepared product is then sold pre-packaged, the shop may indicate a new best before date. It is then the responsibility of the shop to assess the shelf life.
On the other hand, foods marked with an expiry date cannot be sold or used as a raw material or ingredient in the shop after the expiry date.
Best before - good after!
Again, food does not become dangerous to eat after its expiry date. Just make sure you store it according to the instructions on the package. Trust your senses - look, smell and taste.
Note: For people who are sensitive to the bacterium listeria, i.e. the elderly, people with a weakened immune system and pregnant women, there is specific advice on shelf life and certain foods. Read more about Listeria via the link below.
Source: National Food Agency
Finnish Food Authority - Date marking in shops
Finnish Food Authority - What does date marking mean?
Finnish Food Authority - Facts about Listeria
