Food safety
Check food expiry dates before purchase
Read use-by or best-before labels and buy only what can be used in time.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-09
Why it matters
Expired food may be unsafe, while too little usable time leads to waste or risky use.
Wrong action
Buying without reading the date or treating use-by and best-before as identical.
Correct action
Check the date, package integrity, and planned use; use earlier-dated food first.
What to do
- Find and read the date label before purchase.
- Reject expired, unclear, or damaged packages.
- At home, arrange by date and use the earliest first.
If something happens
If anyone becomes severely ill, vomits repeatedly, has breathing difficulty, or becomes unresponsive after eating, stop serving, call 999, and keep packaging and remaining food.
Sources and review
- Centre for Food Safety — Five Keys to Food Safety guidance
Last reviewed: 2026-09-09
This page provides general home-safety information and does not replace medical, legal, electrical, or other professional advice.