Manufacturers are responsible for deciding whether to apply a use-by date or a best before date on their products.
The best before date, sometimes shown as BBE (best before end), is
about quality and not safety. After the best before date listed on a
product, the food will be safe to eat but may not be at its best. Best
before dates appear on a wide range of foods including:
frozen foods (such as peas, chips and ice cream)
dried foods (such as pasta and rice)
tinned foods (such as baked beans and canned tomatoes)
cheese
The best before date will only be accurate if the food is stored according to the instructions on the packaging.
