{"id":82333,"date":"2025-04-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ndf-blog.nextdayflyers.com\/blog\/?p=82333"},"modified":"2026-08-05T07:50:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T14:50:27","slug":"expiration-labels-around-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextdayflyers.com\/blog\/expiration-labels-around-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Expiration Labels Around the World: How Different Countries Mark Freshness"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Whenever people buy food and other perishable goods, they often check various labels on the packaging \u2014 brand names, nutrition facts, ingredients, and marks of authenticity. However, one label always stands out: the expiration date.<\/p>\n

This small yet crucial detail ensures food safety, helping customers choose the freshest and best products to cook and eat with their families. It is an important label required by many governments worldwide. Packaging companies and manufacturers usually work together to accurately display expiration dates on labels, boxes, and bottles. Despite this, expiration date labeling is not the same everywhere. Different countries follow their regulations, using terms like \u201cbest before\u201d or \u201cuse by\u201d to guide consumers. Some governments enforce strict policies, while others take a more flexible approach.<\/p>\n

In this article, we look at how expiration dates work worldwide and how the labels apply to their products. Whether you\u2019re traveling to different countries or buying imported goods, it helps to know what those dates mean depending on where you are.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\nBest Before vs. Use By \u2014 Expiration Labels by Language\n<\/h2>
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Many people rely on expiration labels to judge the quality of food or medicine before buying. While these labels help make safer purchases, some consider them to contribute to food waste. In fact, around\u00a080% of Americans<\/a>\u00a0throw away perfectly good food because they misinterpret expiration labels. This confusion leads to an estimated\u00a0$1,300 worth<\/a>\u00a0of food wasted each year.<\/p>\n

Simply put, expiration dates do not say when the food goes rotten or bad. Instead, it\u2019s a timeframe that indicates when the food is best served or consumed. Most marketers and producers try to make their expiration labels explicit to circumvent food waste. In many cases, the labels usually revolve around these statements:<\/p>\n