Is a shop allowed to sell food that has passed its sell by date?
‘Sell by’ dates, like ‘Display until’ dates, are used by some shops to help staff know when they need to take food products off the shelves. It is up to the manufacturer or shop if it wants to put a ‘Sell by’ or ‘Display until’ date on packaged foods. But they must also have either a ‘Use by’ or ‘Best before’ date. Since the ‘Sell by’ date is just a guide to shop staff, it isn’t against the law to sell a food after it. However, shops mustn’t sell foods that have passed their ‘Use by’ date. And you shouldn’t eat foods after their ‘Use by’ date because they might not be safe to eat. ‘Use by’ dates are used on foods that go off quickly, such as milk, soft cheese, ready-prepared meals and smoked fish. You will see ‘Best before’ dates on foods that last longer, such as frozen, dried or tinned foods. Shops are allowed to sell foods after their ‘Best before’ date (except eggs) and they will probably still be safe to eat. But if you buy foods after their ‘Best before’ date, bear in mind that t
