A package of meat that expires tomorrow, a fish forgotten at the back of the fridge, a prepared dish with a red date: faced with an approaching use-by date, many people share the same reflex. Slip the item into the freezer, hoping to pause the situation and avoid waste. Does this seemingly clever gesture truly comply with food safety rules?
To see clearly, you first need to understand what use-by date and best-before date actually cover. These labels guide our purchases, but they also determine what we can keep, discard, or freeze. For the DGCCRF, Service-Public, and the Ministry of Agriculture, the eve of a use-by date is therefore not just another day.
Use-by Date, Best-Before Date and the Cold Chain: What You Need to Know
The DGCCRF sums things up very plainly: “A use-by date must not be exceeded.” It distinguishes this label from best-before date, for which “a best-before date can be exceeded if the packaging remains intact but the product may have lost some of its flavor qualities.” A use-by date concerns foods that are “microbiologically very perishable” and can quickly pose a risk.
For the best-before date, the DGCCRF explains that it mainly serves to indicate up to when a food keeps its taste and texture. If the packaging stays intact, a product whose best-before date has passed can still be eaten, albeit with reduced enjoyment. Conversely, a use-by date is non-negotiable: no leeway is allowed beyond it, provided the cold chain has been respected.
The Eve of the Use-by Date: What Do Authorities Say?
Regarding freezing, the DGCCRF is equally clear: “You should never freeze a product whose use-by date is near, reached, or past.” The eve of the use-by date is precisely “near” this deadline. Service-Public reminds us that foods with a use-by date must not be consumed after that date; they may pose a danger. Freezing at the last moment does not alter this risk.
The Ministry of Agriculture sums up the risk: “Most microorganisms survive freezing.” Cold at -18 °C stops their growth, but does not remove those already present after a borderline storage. Hence the guidance to freeze well before the date, and not on the eve. The DGCCRF also notes that once the packaging is opened, the use-by date becomes less reliable, which argues for quick consumption.
