A date printed on a jar may look straightforward, but the words around it completely change its meaning. “Best before” is not the same as “use by”. A best-before date is about how long a food retains its specific qualities under the stated storage conditions; a use-by date is a safety limit for highly perishable food.
For honey and nut spreads, understanding that difference helps avoid two opposite mistakes: discarding a product too quickly, or treating a genuine safety date too casually. Here is our practical way to read the label, take account of an opened jar and make a sensible decision.
Best before and use by: the essential difference
Best before relates to quality
A best-before date identifies the period during which the food is expected to retain its specific properties when stored as directed. Passing that date does not make the product automatically unsafe at midnight. Its sensory qualities may, however, change: the aroma may be less distinct, the colour may shift, or the texture may become firmer or less even.
French official guidance explains that food past its best-before date may still be consumed when the packaging is intact and the stated storage conditions have been respected. The date should therefore be read alongside the condition of the jar and the product.
Use by relates to safety
“Use by” is used for microbiologically highly perishable food that may quickly present a danger. This date must be observed: food carrying a use-by date should not be eaten after it has passed.
Your first step is therefore to read the exact wording before the date. The numbers alone do not tell you which type of date you are looking at.
Which date appears on honey and nut spreads?
Shelf-stable foods such as honey and many nut spreads generally carry a best-before date rather than a use-by date. Always follow the label on the particular jar in your hand, though: the recipe, packaging and storage requirements determine the applicable instructions.
You can explore the relevant ranges in our collections of liquid honeys, raw honeys and artisan spreads.
How to read the date on a jar correctly
1. Identify the exact phrase
- “Best before”: this concerns the period during which the product is expected to retain its qualities.
- “Use by”: this is a safety deadline for highly perishable food.
2. Find the storage instructions
The date only applies when the stated conditions have been followed. A label may ask you to keep the jar in a dry place, away from light and heat, or give separate directions after opening. These instructions are not secondary information; they need to be read together with the date.
3. Check whether the jar has been opened
The date is set for the product under the conditions described by the manufacturer. Once a jar is open, air, moisture, utensils and temperature changes can affect it. If the packaging gives a specific temperature or period after opening, that instruction takes priority.
4. Do not confuse the batch code with a date
A batch code identifies a production run and supports traceability. It may contain letters and numbers that resemble a date, but it has a different purpose. Look for an explicit phrase such as “best before” when interpreting the jar.
Past the best-before date: what should you check?
First inspect the packaging. An unusually swollen lid, cracked jar, leak or closure that no longer appears sealed are reasons not to consume the product.
After opening, look at the appearance and smell. An expected texture change is not the same as spoilage. Honey can crystallise naturally, while a nut spread may firm up or show some oil separation. Those physical changes alone do not prove that the food is unfit. An unusual odour, visible fermentation, mould or a clearly abnormal appearance are different and mean the product should be discarded.
If you have a genuine doubt, we do not recommend tasting it as a test. Check the packaging, appearance and smell before any tasting.
Why can the texture change before the date?
A date does not guarantee an identical texture under every storage condition. Temperature has a direct effect: cold firms some fats, while warmth makes them more fluid. Repeated movement between hot and cold environments may also encourage a less even texture.
Honey evolves naturally too. Crystallisation depends partly on composition and temperature and is not evidence that the date has passed. In a nut spread, a fine layer of oil can appear when oils and finely ground nuts are present. If the label asks you to stir, mix slowly with a clean, completely dry utensil.
Good habits for protecting the product
- Close the jar carefully after every use.
- Use a clean, completely dry spoon.
- Keep the jar away from a hob, radiator and direct sunlight.
- Follow the temperature instructions on the label.
- Do not return food to the jar after it has touched bread, fruit or a dairy product.
- Write down the opening date if that helps you keep track.
Past best before does not mean unchanged quality
A product may remain consumable after its best-before date while losing part of its sensory quality. Its aroma may be less precise, its texture denser or its colour slightly altered. A best-before date is neither an automatic safety alarm nor a promise of identical quality without any time limit.
This distinction can reduce unnecessary waste without lowering vigilance. The right decision combines three things: the exact wording of the date, compliance with storage instructions and the actual condition of the product.
What to remember when you pick up the jar
Start with the words before the date. “Best before” mainly concerns the durability of the product’s qualities. “Use by” is a safety deadline that must be respected.
For honey or a spread carrying a best-before date, do not look only at the calendar. Check the packaging, directions after opening and the condition of the contents. That complete reading helps you use the product with confidence and avoid throwing it away unnecessarily.
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