Can a shop sell or display out-of-date food?

Not necessarily, what matters is the condition of the food when it is sold.

Foods marked with a use-by date must not be sold or displayed for sale after their marked dates.


Foods marked with best-before dates may be sold after their marked dates, provided that they remain of good quality and are fit for human consumption. In these circumstances retailers should ensure that customers know that the date has expired before they make the decision to buy. The manufacturer is responsible for the quality of the product until the stated best-before date; if the retailer chooses to sell the product after the stated date, the retailer must then take responsibility for the quality of the product