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Best Before and Expiry Date
Foodbank Queensland receives a wide range of food and grocery items from our generous food donors across the state and through the Food Purchasing Program. Many of these products arrive close to the end of their shelf life, and our team works efficiently to ensure they reach our Members and the Queenslanders they support as quickly as possible.
Across Australia, including here in Queensland, food labelling and expiry dates are regulated under the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code. There are two main types of date marking you’ll commonly see on food packaging – ‘Best Before’ and ‘Use By’ dates. Most of the food donated to Foodbank Queensland, as well as the items you see on supermarket shelves, will include one of these date types.
Used By Date (UBD)
A ‘Use By’ date is a critical food safety marker. Foods must not be consumed or supplied after their Use By date, as they may no longer be safe to eat. In Australia, including Queensland, it is illegal to sell a product past its Use By date unless the manufacturer has formally approved a shelf life extension.
In some cases, a product’s shelf life can be extended by freezing it before the Use By date. However, once the item has been thawed, it should be used immediately to ensure food safety.
Best Before Date (BBD)
A ‘Best Before’ date is the most common date marking you’ll see on packaged foods. This date refers to the period in which the product is expected to be at its highest quality. Foods with a Best Before date can still be legally sold, donated, and safely consumed after the date has passed, although their taste, texture, or appearance may gradually decline.
- It is not dangerous to eat food passed its ‘best before’ date
- Often found on canned foods, packaged products, long-life items, produce and pasta
- Food will typically be ok to eat for 6 to 12 months after the ‘best before’ date
Research from Australian food safety authorities indicates that foods past their best‑before date generally remain safe to eat and retain their nutritional value for a considerable period, with only gradual changes in quality. Best‑before dates relate to peak quality rather than safety, and many packaged foods remain acceptable for up to six months beyond this date when stored correctly.
Products by Used By Date
| Product Type | Suggestion for Community Partners |
|---|---|
| Prepacked fresh meat, fish, and ready to eat meals | Up to UBD, or in some cases may be hard frozen prior to UBD, and re-labelled accordingly |
| Other products with Use By expiry format | Up to UBD |
Products with a Best Before Date
| Fresh / Chilled Products | Suggestion for Community Partners |
|---|---|
| Fresh bread | BBD + up to 3 days |
| Eggs | BBD + 2 weeks |
| Butter and butter blends | BBD + 4 months |
| Margarine | BBD + 4 months |
| Thickened cream | BBD + 2 weeks |
| Sour cream, crème fraiche etc | BBD + 4 weeks |
| Yoghurts and dips | BBD + 2 weeks |
| Dairy desserts | BBD + 2 weeks |
| Shredded cheese | BBD + 4 weeks |
| Soft cheese (e.g. brie, camembert, blue) | BBD + 4 weeks |
| Fresh cheese (e.g. feta, ricotta, cottage cheese) | BBD + 4 weeks |
| Hard cheese (e.g. cheddar, edam) | BBD + 2 months |
| Frozen Products | Suggestion for Community Partners |
| Frozen protein – uncooked | BBD + 3 months |
| Frozen protein – cooked | BBD + 6 months |
| All other frozen products | BBD + 6 months |
| Shelf Stable / Ambient Products | Suggestion for Community Partners |
| Baby food | Up to BBD |
| Dairy UHT Milk | BBD + 8 weeks |
| Non-dairy UHT milk (e.g. soy, almond) | BBD + 6 weeks |
| Pasta and rice | BBD + 1 year |
| Dry cooking/baking ingredients (flour, sugar, salt, herbs, powdered soup/meal base etc) | BBD + 1 year |
| Cooking oils and preserved foods | BBD + 1 year |
| Coffee and tea | BBD + 1 year |
| Water (non-carbonated) | BBD + 1 year |
| All other shelf stable products | BBD + 6 months |
| Non-food Products | Suggestion for Community Partners |
| Personal and household cleaning products | Expiry + 1 year |
| Pet care products (tinned /wet) | BBD + 1 year |
| Pet care products (dry) | BBD + 6 months |
| Pet care products (chilled) | Up to expiry |
For further information, please visit the Food Standards Australia & NZ website (www.foodstandards.gov.au) or get in touch with us directly via email: members@foodbankqld.org.au or call 07 3395 8422.