Product Labelling - Date Marks

To get the most out of our shopping dollars, it is handy to understand date marking. This can allow us to better understand when products are safe to eat and also at their best quality and nutritional value.

Product labelling requires the packaging of products to display a date mark. Date marking gives consumers and retailers an indication of the freshness of a product and when best to be consumed.

There is no requirement for any package food with a shelf life of more than 2 years to have a date mark. This could include any canned foods such as canned soups, canned vegetables and other cured or preserved foods. Some manufactures can still provide the best before date, so that consumers know when the product will still be expected to be consumed at its top quality.

Bread can have a ‘baked on” date, or a ‘baked for” date, instead of the best before date, as the shelf life of bread is considered to be less than 7 days in most cases.

Use-By Date
It is illegal in Australia to sell any product that has reached its use-by date. These products need to be eaten or thrown away by this date, as it is unsafe even if it looks fine. Products once they reach the use-by date can lose their key nutrients or even develop a build-up of bacteria, which can be harmful if consumed. Common foods with a use-by date include dairy products and meat produce.
 
Best-Before Date
These products can still be eaten after the best before date, as long as they are not damaged, deteriorated or starting to perish. The best before date must be added to any products that have a shelf life is less than 2 years. Many manufacturer’s also include information for ways to store the food, if these expressed requirements are met, than most foods with the best before date can still safely be eaten on or after this date. These products may lose some quality, but it is still expected to retain full colour, taste, texture and flavour as long as stored correctly.  Common foods with the best before date include canned foods, flour and sugars, biscuits, chocolates and chips.