What Does the Use By Date Mean For Meat Products?

Packaged foods that perish particularly quickly and easily must be marked with a use-by date instead of a best-before date. A use-by date is given, for example, for certain types of meat and fish such as minced meat, fresh poultry, or smoked salmon. These foods should also be consumed no later than on the printed day. They can then spoil and consumption can be hazardous to health. In addition to the use-by date, meat marked in this way must also be provided with a reference to the storage conditions to be observed.

According to Section 7a of the Food Labeling Ordinance (LMKV), foods with a use-by date that has passed may no longer be sold. In contrast, foods that are marked with a best-before date can still be eaten without any problems even after the printed date has passed if they are stored correctly in unopened packaging. With the exception of eggs, products with an expired best-before date can theoretically still be sold, but this is unusual in Germany.