best before

1. Used on product labeling to indicate the date up to which a perishable item is at its best quality.

   Best before 11/04/2027

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see best, before.

plural best befores

1. abbreviationellipsisinformalEllipsis of best before date.

   What's the best before on the milk?

   3 more examples

   Secretary of State for the Environment Hilary Benn has suggested sell-by dates should be scrapped and best-befores ignored.

   2009 November 10, Tamsyn Kent, “Thriving trade in out-of-date best-before foods”, in BBC News, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2009

   The best before on bread is just a guideline - they might not be at their best after this point, but loaves that've gone a bit hard can be eaten without any problems.

   2016 November 8, Eleanor Jones, “11 foods you can eat after their sell-by date”, in Cosmopolitan, archived from the original on 26 Aug 2017

   We have quite a bit [of stock] at the moment from containers coming in that aren’t getting through quick enough so the dates are short and past best befores.

   2022 November 15, Aimee Shaw, “Savvy shoppers seek out 'expired' food to combat rising grocery prices”, in Stuff, archived from the original on 14 Nov 2022