Best Before vs. Use By Dates — What They Really Mean for Your Snacks

When you order crisps, sweets, or snacks from us, you want two things:

1. To actually get what you paid for.
2. To get it fast — without any hassle.

We get it. And we agree.

That’s why at Snacks Online, we believe in being upfront about what you're getting. All the products on our site are marked with Best Before dates — not Use By dates — and there’s a good reason for that.

So, what does it mean for your crisps, sweets, and snacks? Let’s clear it up.

Best Before Dates — A Guide to Quality, Not Safety

A Best Before date is exactly what it says on the tin: it’s about when the product is at its best for flavour, crunch, and texture.

It’s not a safety deadline. Snacks don’t suddenly turn dangerous the day after the date printed on the pack. They might lose a bit of crispness or taste slightly different, but most of the time, they’re still perfectly fine to eat.

A few things to know about Best Before dates:

• Quality marker, not a safety warning
• Taste and texture might change a little after the date — but often not enough to notice
• Helps reduce food waste — a snack doesn’t need to go in the bin just because the date’s passed
• Stored right, many products stay good for weeks (sometimes months) beyond their Best Before

Use By Dates — A Safety Cut-Off

On the other hand, Use By dates are the serious ones. These are for perishable foods like meat, dairy, and ready-to-eat chilled meals. It’s not about quality — it’s about safety.

Eat food after its Use By date, and you could be risking food poisoning, as harmful bacteria may have had time to grow.

What you need to know about Use By dates:

• Found on fresh, perishable foods (not snacks)
• Should be followed strictly for your safety
• Proper storage (like refrigeration) is essential — but even then, you shouldn’t eat these foods past their Use By date

So, What About Snacks Online?

Simple:

• Every product we sell comes with a Best Before date — not Use By.
• We don’t sell anything fresh or perishable that carries a Use By label.
• Your crisps, sweets, and snacks are safe to enjoy beyond the date, as long as the packaging is intact and they’ve been stored properly.

Why This Matters

We’ve seen plenty of good food thrown away because of confusion over date labels. The truth is, a Best Before date is just a guide for best quality, not a hard stop. We encourage you to trust your senses — if your crisps smell fine, taste fine, and look fine, they probably are fine.

Thanks for choosing Snacks Online. We're here not just to deliver the goods, but to help you enjoy them properly too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Before and Use By Dates

Is it safe to eat snacks after the Best Before date?

Yes, absolutely — in most cases. The Best Before date is there to tell you when the product is at its best for taste and texture. It’s not a safety warning. If the packaging’s intact and the snacks look, smell, and taste fine, you’re good to go.

What happens if I eat food after the Use By date?

This is the one you don’t mess about with. Use By dates are found on fresh foods like meat, dairy, and chilled ready meals. Eating these after the date can be risky because harmful bacteria might have grown. If it says Use By, stick to it.

Do any of your products at Snacks Online have Use By dates?

No — we don’t sell anything with a Use By date. All our products come with Best Before dates only, which means it’s about quality, not safety. You won’t find perishable foods like meat or dairy here — just crisps, sweets, snacks, and a few cheeky treats.

How long after the Best Before date are snacks still good?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but a lot of snacks are fine for weeks or even months after the Best Before date — as long as they’re sealed properly and stored right. Always trust your senses. If it smells fine and tastes fine, it probably is fine.

Why do you sell products close to or past their Best Before date?

Simple — because they’re still good! And it helps cut down on food waste. We believe in giving people the choice. We’ll always be upfront about the dates on anything we sell.