Use by
What it really means
The safety date on fresh food like meat, fish and dairy. Do not eat food after its use-by date, even if it looks and smells fine — this is the date that matters for safety. You can freeze food before the date to keep it longer.
Context, tips & common mistakes
The use-by date is the one food-label date that is genuinely about safety: after it, food such as cooked meats, soft cheeses, smoked fish and prepared salads can carry harmful bacteria like listeria without smelling or looking wrong, so the familiar sniff test from home does not protect you here. The practical workaround is the freezer — most food can be frozen right up to and including the use-by date, then defrosted and eaten within a day, which is also how to make the most of yellow-sticker reduced items bought on their last day. Storage instructions on the pack are part of the deal: a use-by date assumes the food was kept refrigerated as directed, and UK fridges should run at 5°C or below. Pregnant women, young children, older people and anyone with a weakened immune system are the groups for whom ignoring use-by dates carries real risk, which is why UK guidance is stricter than the habits many newcomers arrive with.