Glossary

Best before

A quality date mark indicating when food is expected to be at its best.

Reviewed 22 September 2026 against official guidance.SourcesNot legal advice.

In practice

Do not confuse best-before rules with the PPDS requirement to emphasise allergens in the ingredients list.

On LabelClear we keep this definition tight so every guide uses the same meaning. If your situation is unusual, check with your local authority.

Does best-before replace allergen emphasis?

No. Date marks and allergen emphasis are separate duties.

When should I use best-before instead of use-by?

Best-before is a quality date; use-by is a safety date for highly perishable foods. Follow guidance for your product.

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