{"id":192484,"date":"2022-03-18T07:57:01","date_gmt":"2022-03-18T05:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fendaf.ee\/uncategorized-et-en\/sailivusaeg\/"},"modified":"2026-11-09T13:01:35","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T11:01:35","slug":"pet-food-expiration-dates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fendaf.ee\/en\/products\/pet-food-expiration-dates\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet food expiration dates: best before vs use by"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cBest before\u201d and \u201cuse by\u201d look quite similar on a package. Both are followed by a date, and sometimes we read only the number. Yet they communicate different things. One mainly concerns quality, while the other concerns safety in rapidly perishable human food. With pet food, we must also remember that its labelling is governed by feed requirements.<\/p>\n

These terms matter because a product past its date should not automatically be regarded as poisonous. Equally, we should not assume that everything is unconditionally fine until that date. Shelf life depends on the product, its packaging and how we have stored it.<\/p>\n

Best before describes the preservation of quality<\/h2>\n

A best-before date generally indicates the period during which an unopened product stored under the specified conditions should retain the properties described by the manufacturer. Passing that date does not instantly spoil the product. However, flavour, aroma and the preservation of certain vitamins or other sensitive ingredients may deteriorate over time.<\/p>\n

Nutritional value is not simply a question of whether the dog still enjoys eating the food. Fat may oxidise and the concentration of some active compounds or vitamins may fall before an owner notices anything obvious. Appearance alone cannot establish microbiological safety either. Sensory checks help identify obvious problems, but they are not laboratory tests.<\/p>\n

It is sometimes said that manufacturers usually allow at least a couple of extra months in their shelf-life calculations. That promise cannot be made for every product. A manufacturer may use a safety margin, but neither its size nor the design of shelf-life tests is universal. There is therefore no single \u201canother two months is definitely fine\u201d rule for all dry foods, oils and powders. The Estonian Agriculture and Food Board has, however, stated that dry food is safe to use for up to six months after its best-before date.<\/p>\n

Use by is a different kind of limit<\/h2>\n

For human food, use-by dates apply to products that are highly perishable microbiologically. After this date, suitability cannot be judged solely by a pleasant smell or good appearance. It is not a date when a particular nutritional value expires, but a safety-related label.<\/p>\n

If a food is suitable for freezing, freeze it before its use-by date, following the manufacturer's instructions. Freezing slows microbial growth, but it does not make previously mishandled or spoiled food safe. Nor does freezing destroy every microorganism. Thawed food needs its own handling and use instructions. The old date does not give it an unlimited life.<\/p>\n

I would take the same practical precautions with raw pet food or meat intended for dogs. My position has not changed: I would not feed my dogs unfrozen meat past its use-by date. A dog is not a fallback plan for food safety.<\/p>\n

Pet food is legally feed<\/h2>\n

Pet food is sometimes called \u201cinedible\u201d. That is not quite correct: it is feed intended for animals to eat, with its own safety and marketing requirements. Using ingredients suitable for human consumption does not automatically turn finished pet food into human food or move it into another labelling system.<\/p>\n

EU Regulation 767\/2009 addresses the minimum storage life of feed. Depending on perishability, compound feed may be labelled \u201cuse before\u201d or \u201cbest before\u201d. Human food date explanations therefore cannot be transferred without qualification to every treat, complementary feed and raw food package. The most practical approach is to read the exact wording together with the storage and after-opening instructions.<\/p>\n

The date is only one part of the manufacturer's safety and quality system. Batch checks, hygiene, packaging integrity, temperature and humidity also affect the result. Nevertheless, the manufacturer's shelf life is meaningful information that should not be dismissed simply because the food \u201clooks fine\u201d.<\/p>\n

Opening changes the situation<\/h2>\n

Opening a package does not make the printed date disappear, but the manufacturer's assurance for an unopened package may no longer describe the actual situation. Air, moisture, a contaminated scoop or a warm storage room can change quality much faster. If the package separately states \u201cuse within … after opening\u201d, that instruction must be considered alongside the printed date.<\/p>\n

The FDA recommends storing dry food in its original bag, which can be placed whole inside a clean, closed storage container. This also preserves the batch number and shelf-life information. Do not pour new food on top of old food or simply refill a greasy container. Clean and dry it before adding the contents of a new bag.<\/p>\n

Opened wet food needs prompt refrigeration and the manufacturer's specified use period. Keep the refrigerator at approximately 4 \u00b0C, or follow a stricter manufacturer instruction. Food left warm in a bowl for a long time does not become fresh again when refrigerated. If instructions are missing or unclear, ask the manufacturer. A guessed week is not a storage instruction.<\/p>\n

Ossu and rosehip powder<\/h2>\n

I have had an open container of rosehip powder at home with a best-before date of July 2021. I continued using it to support Ossu's joints after that date and, in my assessment, the effect was still there. There is no reason to erase that experience.<\/p>\n

However, it tells us only what we observed. Ossu's condition did not measure the powder's vitamin or other compound concentrations, and we did not carry out microbiological testing. Some properties may have been preserved, but one experience cannot tell us how much or for how long. It cannot become advice to use every opened powder for years.<\/p>\n

Integrative nutrition often discusses ingredient freshness and keeping unnecessary processing to a minimum. Everyday storage matters just as much. A valuable oil or herbal powder is not immune to air, light and moisture because its ingredients are natural. A sensibly sized package may be a better choice than a large discounted bag that stays open for months.<\/p>\n

A buffalo horn does not last forever<\/h2>\n

A buffalo horn is another example. It is a very different product from fresh meat, and reaching a printed date does not mean it suddenly spoils that day. At the same time, it is not accurate to say that a horn \u201cdoes not expire\u201d, or that every such product must legally carry the same kind of date. Requirements depend on the product category and how it is marketed.<\/p>\n

During use, moisture, cleaning and chewing affect the horn's condition. Discard an item that is mouldy, smells unusual, splinters sharply or has become small enough to swallow. Very hard chews can also damage teeth. That risk does not depend on whether the best-before date is still in the future.<\/p>\n

We still have a seven-year-old buffalo horn at home that is neither mouldy nor unusually smelly, and the boys chew it occasionally. That is our experience, not a guarantee that all horns keep \u201cforever\u201d.<\/p>\n

What freezing can and cannot do<\/h2>\n

Freezing in small portions can be practical if the product tolerates it and the manufacturer permits it. Label portions with their contents and freezing date, and thaw them as needed. Thawing raw meat in the refrigerator helps reduce time spent warm and contamination of kitchen surfaces.<\/p>\n

Whether a particular powdered supplement can be frozen depends on the preparation. Some tolerate it well; others need different storage. Condensation when opening a container may make a dry powder damp. Instructions for enzymes, probiotics, oils and medicines must be read separately.<\/p>\n

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A quick decision at the package<\/h3>\n