Date marks

Food carries one of two kinds of date mark. Use-by is about safety. Best before is about quality.

A use-by date goes on food that spoils quickly, such as chilled ready meals, cooked meats and fresh dairy products. Do not sell or serve food past its use-by date. It can look and smell fine and still be unsafe, so a sniff test is not a safety test. Cooking the food does not get round the date.

For example, cooked ham with a use-by date of 12 March can be sold or served up to the end of 12 March, if it has been stored as the label says. On 13 March, it must not be sold or served, even at a reduced price. It must not be used as an ingredient either.

A best before date goes on food that lasts longer, such as tinned, dried and frozen food. After this date, the food should still be safe, but its quality may be lower. A business may still sell it, as long as it is safe. Many choose not to, so follow your workplace rules.

Dates only apply when food is stored as the label says. Once a pack is opened, follow instructions such as 'use within 3 days of opening'. Label opened food with the date you opened it.

Food made on site has no printed date. Your business sets how long it can be kept, so use your workplace's labelling system every time.

Check dates when food arrives, when you rotate stock and before you use it. Never change or remove a date mark.