The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has published Industry Guidance on Setting Product Shelf Life with the aim to help food and drink manufacturers understand the requirements to assign the most appropriate 'Use By' or 'Best Before' date for their product.
The guidance clarifies the difference between 'Use By' and 'Best Before' date labelling and highlights the importance of validating the shelf-life proposed for a food and the procedure required to do so. The document also includes information for food business operators about factors affecting shelf-life, practical advice based on common misinterpretations, and additional sources of information.