You're cleaning the fridge, spot milk past its date, and hesitate: "It's one day over — toss it?" Korea used to print a sell-by date (유통기한), but most packaging now shows a use-by date (소비기한). They mean different things.
Sell-by = how long a store may sell it. Use-by = how long it's safe to eat if stored as directed. That's why the use-by date is longer.
Where the labeling stands now
- Korea's use-by labeling took effect on January 1, 2023 (with 2023 as a grace period showing both).
- Today most foods carry a use-by date.
- Milk is the exception. It was deferred while cold-chain systems are upgraded and is scheduled to switch on January 1, 2031.
The reason for the change is simple: sell-by dates were set at roughly 60–70% of the truly edible period, so a lot of perfectly good food was thrown out.
⚠️ Use-by dates come with a condition
A use-by date assumes you followed the stated storage method. If a chilled item sat out at room temperature, or lingered in a hot car on the way home, it can spoil before the date. And once opened, eat it soon regardless of the printed date.
Summer storage basics
- Keep the fridge at 0–5°C and the freezer at −18°C or below. Frequent door opening raises the temperature.
- Fill the fridge only about 70% — packed full, cold air can't circulate.
- Shop for chilled and frozen items last, use a cooler bag in summer, and refrigerate as soon as you're home.
- Refrigerate cooked food within two hours (one in summer). Let it cool slightly rather than putting it in piping hot.
- Raw food on lower shelves, cooked above — this prevents drips causing cross-contamination.
Signs to throw it out
- Sour or off smell, sticky or slimy texture
- Mold — cutting off the moldy part is risky, especially in moist foods. Discard the whole item.
- A can that is bulging, or hisses and smells wrong when opened
When in doubt, don't taste-test — throw it out. Treating food poisoning costs far more than the groceries.
FAQ
It's one day past the use-by date. Is it OK?
The use-by date is the last day it's considered safe, so eating past it isn't recommended — especially if storage was imperfect.
Does freezing extend the use-by date?
Freezing greatly slows spoilage, though quality declines over time. Freezing before the date keeps it safe, but not indefinitely.
Why does milk still show a sell-by date?
It was deferred for cold-chain upgrades and is set to move to use-by dating in 2031.
A use-by date is a promise conditional on proper storage. Don't read the date alone — read how it was kept.
This is general household information, not medical advice. Labeling rules can change, so check the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and see a doctor for food-poisoning symptoms.
