Use By vs Best Before: Decoding Food Labels as Regulators Tighten Scrutiny

Packaged food labels carry more than one kind of date, and the distinction matters — both for shoppers and for regulators now tightening their watch on the sector.

In July, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued nine notices to Swiggy Instamart following a string of consumer complaints alleging that expired, spoiled and contaminated products had been delivered. The action has turned attention to food safety standards in India's fast-growing quick commerce segment.

Separately, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration department has directed food businesses to declare the actual manufacturing or processing date on packaged goods. The instruction followed special inspections of manufacturing units, which found that products were being stored for long stretches after production, later repacked into smaller packets and labelled with the repacking date as the manufacturing date. Some relabellers and repackers were allegedly following the same practice, making it hard for consumers to judge a product's true age and remaining shelf life. Officials note that shelf life begins on the date a product is manufactured or processed.

What the labels mean

Best before date: Under FSSAI norms, this marks the end of the period during which a food product, stored as stated, remains fully marketable and retains the specific qualities claimed for it. After this date the food may still be safe, though its quality may have declined. It cannot be sold if it becomes unsafe at any stage.

Use by or expiry date: This is the date after which the product may no longer be safe and is unlikely to meet the quality and safety attributes consumers expect. Such food must not be sold or distributed for human consumption.

Date of manufacture: The date on which the food becomes the product as described.

Date of packaging: The date on which the product is placed in the immediate container in which it will be sold.

Lot, code or batch number: An identification mark — shown as numerals, alphabets or a combination, often preceded by terms such as Batch No., B. No., L. No., Lot No., Code, LN, CN or BN — that allows the food to be traced during manufacture and identified in distribution.

Package or container: A pre-packed box, bottle, jar, casket, tin, barrel, case, pouch, receptacle, sack, bag, wrapper or similar article in which food is packed.

Recommended dietary allowances (RDA): The average daily nutrient intake level sufficient to meet the requirement of nearly all (97–98 per cent) healthy individuals in a given life stage and gender group.

Retail pack or retail unit: Packages meant for sale to the ultimate consumer for consumption.

Non-retail containers: Containers not intended for direct sale to consumers; the food inside is meant for further business activity before reaching the buyer.

Multi-unit package: A package holding two or more individually packaged or labelled units of the same food commodity, of identical or different net quantity, displayed for retail sale as individual units or as a whole.

Assorted pack: A package or container holding multiple units of different food products intended and displayed for retail sale.