Use By Date Labels

Use By Date Labels for Perishable Food Safety

Use by dates are a food safety requirement—not a quality indicator. Food past its use by date must not be sold and should not be consumed, because it may pose a health risk even if it looks, smells and tastes normal. Vision Supply stocks use by date labels in pre-printed formats for handheld date guns and pricing labellers used by supermarkets, butcher shops, delicatessens, commercial kitchens and any Australian business that packages perishable food for sale.

FSANZ Standard 1.2.5 requires use by dates on foods that may become unsafe after a certain period. Applying use by labels correctly is a baseline food safety compliance obligation. Council environmental health officers check date marking during routine food premises inspections, and non-compliance can trigger improvement notices, fines or prosecution under state food legislation.

Pre-Printed Use By Labels for Handheld Date Guns

Our use by labels are pre-printed with “Use By” text and a date area, designed for Monarch 1131 and compatible date coding guns. Staff dial the date and apply labels to products in a single action. The pre-printed format ensures every product carries a clear, uniform, legible date mark that meets the presentation standard assessed during health inspections.

Permanent adhesive bonds on contact to cling film, trays, vacuum-sealed packaging, bottles, jars, bags and cartons. The bond holds through refrigeration, freezer storage and customer handling without peeling or curling.

Which Products Require Use By Dates

Fresh meat (beef, lamb, pork, chicken, mince), fresh seafood, dairy products (milk, yoghurt, cream, soft cheese), ready-to-eat salads, pre-made sandwiches, chilled prepared meals, fresh pasta, fresh juice, dips and spreads, and reconstituted medications all require use by dates under Australian food standards. If the product can become microbiologically unsafe after a specific period, it needs a use by date—not a best before.

Incorrectly applying a best before label to a use-by product is a compliance breach. If you are unsure which date mark type applies to your product, consult the FSANZ Food Standards Code or your local council environmental health officer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What pricing guns are these labels compatible with?

Monarch 1131 and compatible single-line date coding guns.

What is the difference between use by and best before?

Use by indicates safety—food must not be sold or consumed after this date. Best before indicates quality—food may lose optimal flavour or texture but is not necessarily unsafe.

Are use by dates required by law?

Yes. FSANZ Standard 1.2.5 requires use by dates on perishable foods that may become unsafe after a certain period.