sellby

Sell-by date is a label printed on many perishable food items indicating the last date the retailer should display the product for sale to maintain quality. It is issued mainly for inventory management and stock rotation, helping stores move fresh products before quality declines. The sell-by date is not a safety deadline; many foods remain safe to consume after this date if they have been stored properly, though their quality may deteriorate.

In practice, different labeling systems exist. Some products carry a sell-by date, others use a best-before date or a use-by date. A use-by date relates to safety and should be followed for high-risk foods, while a best-before date typically signals quality rather than safety. The presence of a sell-by date does not automatically determine whether a product is safe to eat after that date.

Consumer guidance emphasizes that sell-by dates reflect quality rather than safety. For non-perishable items and low-risk foods, products can often be used after the sell-by date if they look and smell normal and have been stored properly. For high-risk items such as meat, poultry, fish, or prepared foods, rely more on use-by dates and sensory checks, and discard if there are signs of spoilage.

Regulation and practice vary by country and retailer. Some jurisdictions require explicit labeling, while others rely on retailer labeling practices. Efforts to clarify date labeling have aimed to reduce waste and improve consumer understanding of what the dates signify.