best by date

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "best by date" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate the date by which a product is recommended to be consumed for optimal quality. For example, "Please check the best by date before purchasing the item." Alternative expressions include "best before date" and "use by date."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

It is past its "best by" date, but tastes fine.

The New York Times

Failing that, look at the "best by" date which should be two years after an oil was bottled.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Certified extra-virgin olive oils from the European Union are required to have a "best by" date on the label.

The New York Times - Food

A good EVOO will at least have a "best by" date, but better brands have a "harvest date".

Harvard University

While checking your cupboards for supplies, you find a bag of stuffing mix with a "best by" date of Nov. 1, 2015.

The Washington Post

Longer is generous, especially if the employer needs help training your replacement — but if you've stayed well past your mental health "best by" date, tie off your projects as best you can and make a clean break.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Some yoghurts remain good to eat one to three weeks after the best-by date.

The Guardian

Though the recall covers cereal with a best-by date of June 14 , 2018 through June 14 , 2019 the agency is recommending people avoid the cereal altogether.

The Washington Post

In those countries most of the waste is caused by consumers throwing away perfectly good food, in large part because grandma's taste-and-sniff test of food that is past its best-by date has fallen out of favour.

The Economist

The Liberals may not be past their best-by date yet — Canadians typically grow tired of federal governments after a few rounds — but they've been in government long enough that running the smiling 2015 "Hope and hard work" campaign will be tricky.

The Washington Post

The ready-to-eat bites in question come in 22-ounce frozen packages with a best-by date of 10/25/19 and UPC Bar Code 72745-80656, with a "P-33944" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Understand that "best by date" indicates quality, not safety. Use sensory evaluation (sight, smell, taste) to determine if a product is still suitable for consumption after this date.

Common error

Do not automatically discard food solely based on the "best by date". This date primarily indicates quality, not safety. Use your senses to evaluate the food's condition, and only discard it if there are clear signs of spoilage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "best by date" functions as a noun phrase, typically modifying another noun (e.g., "check the best by date"). Ludwig AI confirms its usage in indicating a date related to food or product quality.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "best by date" is a noun phrase used to indicate the date until which a product maintains its optimal quality, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's important to distinguish this from "use by" or "expiration" dates, which relate to safety. The term appears frequently in news and media, as well as in academic and wiki sources, suggesting a generally neutral register. When using the phrase, provide the full date for clarity and understand it indicates quality, not necessarily safety. Be aware of the common error of confusing it with expiration dates, and always use your senses to evaluate the condition of the product.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

better if used by

Suggests the date for optimal quality, which might differ from standard "best by".

use-by date

Specifies the last date a product is safe to consume.

fresh until

A simpler, more direct way to indicate freshness duration.

expiration date

Refers to the date after which a product should not be used.

optimum consumption date

Focuses on when the product will provide the best possible experience.

sell-by date

Indicates the date by which a store should sell a product.

recommended consumption date

Highlights the recommended, rather than mandatory, nature of the date.

display until date

Date after which the product is no longer intended to be displayed for sale.

peak freshness date

Emphasizes the point when the product is at its freshest.

quality assurance date

Highlights the company's guarantee of quality until the specified date.

FAQs

What is the difference between "best by date" and "use by date"?

A "best by date" indicates when a product will be of best quality or flavor. A "use by date" /s/use+by+date suggests when a product is no longer safe to consume.

How should I interpret a "best by date" on food packaging?

A "best by date" means the product is likely to decline in quality after that date, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's unsafe to eat. Use your senses to determine if it's still good.

Can I still consume a product after its "best by date"?

It depends. If the product looks, smells, and tastes normal, it's likely safe to consume, though the quality may not be optimal. Check for signs of spoilage before consuming.

What are some alternatives to saying "best by date"?

You can use alternatives such as "better if used by", /s/better+if+used+by "sell by date", /s/sell+by+date or "expiration date" /s/expiration+date depending on the context.