What is a date mark?

A date mark indicates the end of a food product's shelf life. Shelf life is the period of time that food can be kept under appropriate storage conditions before it starts to deteriorate. Manufacturers are responsible for determining the shelf life of their food products. Foods should be consumed before the date mark expires to ensure the food's safety and quality.

What food products require a date mark? (Standard 1.2.5)

• Most packaged food products with a shelf life of less than two years require a date mark.

• Date marks are not required for individual portions of ice-cream or ice confection, or for food products in small packages (with a surface area less than 100cm²) where there is no food safety concern.

What does a date mark look like?

• ’Use By', ’Best Before', ’Baked On'/'Bkd On', ’Baked For'/'Bkd For' followed by a date or a reference to where the date is located on the label.

• The date must consist at least of:

  • The day and the month for products with a shelf life of less than 3 months

  • The month and the year for products with a shelf life greater than 3 months

• The day, month and year must be distinguishable and expressed in uncoded numbers in chronological order or letters when the month is written.

• An example of a date mark for a food with a shelf life of less than 3 months: Best Before 1 March.

What do the different date marks mean?

• The ’Use By' date:

  • Relates to food safety

  • Indicates when for health reasons the food should be consumed by. Providing the intact package is stored in accordance with any stated storage conditions the product should remain safe to eat until the ’Use By' date.

  • Foods should not be consumed once the ’Use By' date has past

  • Foods cannot be sold beyond their ’Use By' date.

• The ’Best Before' date:

  • Relates to quality

  • Indicates when the food should be consumed by to ensure it remains at premium quality

  • Foods can be sold beyond their ’Best Before' date provided it is still fit for consumption

• The ’Baked On' date:

  • Relates to bread with a shelf life of less than 7 days

  • Means the date on which the bread was baked

• The ’Baked For' date:

  • Relates to bread with a shelf life of less than 7 days

  • Means a date no later than 12 hours after baking

• The ’Packed On' date, or other manufacturer's or packer's Codes, may also be used but only in addition to a date mark outlined above.

Directions for Use and Storage (Standard 1.2.6)

The label on a package of food must include a statement of any specific storage conditions required to ensure that the food will keep until the date indicated by the date mark. It must also include appropriate directions for the subsequent use and storage of the food, where the food requires such directions for reasons of health and safety (e.g. Refrigerate after opening).

Date of publication: 23 January 2004

Source: http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consumers/food-safety-topics/food-processing-labelling/food-labelling/fact-sheets/fs-2003-02-date-labelling.htm