BBF Meaning: Best Before vs BBE vs EXP on Food Labels
BBF is a label abbreviation for Best Before. It shows the date until which a product keeps its best quality (taste, smell, colour and texture) when stored as the label says. It is different from EXP (expiry date or use-by date), after which the product should not be eaten for safety reasons.
What does BBF mean?
BBF is the short form manufacturers use for Best Before. On Thai food labels the required Thai wording is “ควรบริโภคก่อน”, and English such as BBF or Best Before may appear alongside it. Some brands print BB, BBE (Best Before End) or the full words Best Before. All of them mean the same thing: the last date on which the manufacturer expects the product to keep its stated quality, provided it is stored as instructed (for example dry, out of sunlight, or refrigerated).
The Codex General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CXS 1-1985, revised 2018) explains that after the best-before date the food may still be acceptable for consumption. A use-by or expiration date is different: after it the product should not be sold or consumed for safety and quality reasons.
BBF vs BBE vs BB vs EXP vs Use by
| On the label | Stands for | Meaning | After the date |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBF / BB | Best Before | Best quality until this date | May still be fine if stored correctly and unchanged, but quality can decline |
| BBE | Best Before End | Best before the end of the stated period, often used with month and year only | Same as BBF |
| EXP / EXD | Expiry / Expiration Date | Expiry date | Do not consume |
| Use by | Use by | Safety-related last date | Do not consume or use |
| MFG / MFD | Manufacturing Date | Production date | Not an expiry date; read it together with the best-before or expiry date |
For a full guide to expiry dates, read EXP meaning: how to read expiry dates on labels.
For more on manufacturing and expiry dates, read Manufacturing, expiry and best-before dates explained.
How to read BBF and BBE dates on a label
| Example on the label | How to read it |
|---|---|
BBF 09/10/2027 | Best before 9 October 2027 (day/month/year) |
BBE 10/2027 | Best before the end of October 2027 (month and year only) |
ควรบริโภคก่อน 09 10 70 | The year may be a two-digit Buddhist Era year (70 = B.E. 2570 = 2027). Check the label if unsure |
EXP 2027-10-09 | Year-month-day order: expires 9 October 2027 |
Under Thai FDA labelling rules the year may be written in the Buddhist or Gregorian calendar, with two or four digits, and the month in numbers or letters. If the date is not in day-month-year order, the label must explain the order. Products with a shelf life of 90 days or less must show day, month and year; products with a longer shelf life may show month and year only.
Can you still eat food after the BBF date?
The Thai FDA explains that food past its best-before date can still be eaten if its appearance, smell, colour and taste have not changed. Throw it away if you see mould, slime, an unusual smell, or a swollen or leaking pack. Food marked with an expiry date (EXP) should not be eaten after that date, especially short-life chilled foods such as pasteurised milk and pasteurised juice.
- Follow the storage instructions: a BBF date only applies when the product is stored as the label says.
- Once opened, the clock changes: many products say “consume within … days of opening”. Follow that instruction.
- Shops should not sell past-date stock: Thai FDA labelling rules require the date shown to be no earlier than the date of sale.
For manufacturers: should you print BBF or EXP?
Manufacturers set the shelf life themselves through shelf-life studies, considering factors such as water activity, pH, processing, packaging and storage conditions. As a general guide:
- Use an expiry date (EXP) when the product must be consumed by a certain date for safety, such as short-life chilled foods (consistent with Codex).
- Use a best-before date (BBF) when, after the date, the product mainly loses quality, such as snacks, bottled drinks and dry goods.
- Check product-specific rules: some product categories have their own notifications that set the wording. Follow them, and confirm with the Thai FDA or a food-regulatory adviser.
Thai labels must use “ควรบริโภคก่อน” (best before) or “หมดอายุ” (expiry) followed by the date, and English with the same meaning, such as BBF, Best Before or EXP, can be added. If the date is not next to the wording, the label must say where it is, for example “Best before: see bottle base”, under Ministry of Public Health Notification No. 450 (B.E. 2567). For a summary of the rules, see Thai food labels: manufacturing dates, expiry dates and best before.
Print BBF dates clearly on every pack
- Match the date format to the label, for example
ควรบริโภคก่อน / BBF 09/10/2027, and keep the same order on every lot. - Let the printer calculate the date from its clock instead of typing it each shift. Many industrial date coders support automatic date offsets; check what your model supports.
- Print MFG and LOT together for traceability. See LOT number and batch coding guide.
- Choose an easy-to-read position such as the cap, neck, base or side panel. See Where to print expiry dates on packaging.
- Choose an ink suited to the substrate and food application. See Date coding inks for food packaging.
- Verify codes automatically on fast or multi-product lines with vision inspection that reads the code (OCR) and rejects missing or wrong prints.
| Application | Typical technology | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Bottles, pouches and cans on a moving conveyor | CIJ continuous inkjet | FASTJET CIJ printers |
| Cartons, labels and film needing sharp text | TIJ cartridge printing | FASTJET TIJ printers |
| PET bottles and cans needing permanent, ink-free codes | Laser | Laser marking |
| Small batches and frequently moved print points | Handheld printer | Handheld date printers |
BBF frequently asked questions
What does BBF stand for?
BBF is an abbreviation for Best Before. It shows the date until which a product keeps its best quality when stored as the label says. Some brands use BB or BBE instead.
What is the difference between BBF and EXP?
BBF (best before) is about quality: after the date the food may still be fine if it is unchanged. EXP (expiry) is about safety: the product should not be consumed after the date.
Can I eat food after the BBF date?
The Thai FDA says it can be eaten if its appearance, smell, colour and taste have not changed and it has been stored as instructed. Throw it away if there is mould, slime, an unusual smell, or a swollen pack.
What does BBE mean? Is it different from BBF?
BBE stands for Best Before End and means the same as BBF. It is often used when only the month and year are shown. For example, BBE 10/2027 means best before the end of October 2027.
What date is BBF 09/10/27?
In day/month/year order, the main order used on Thai labels, it means best before 9 October 2027. If a label uses another order, it must state the order.
Can Thai food labels show only BBF or EXP in English?
Food labels in Thailand need the Thai wording “ควรบริโภคก่อน” (best before) or “หมดอายุ” (expiry) followed by the date. English with the same meaning can be added. Also check any product-specific notification.
What is the difference between MFG and BBF?
MFG is the manufacturing date; BBF is the best-before date. Most products show both, for example MFG 09/10/2026 BBF 09/10/2027: made on 9 Oct 2026 and best before 9 Oct 2027.
References
- Thai FDA Food Division – Food labelling rules and label examples (MOPH Notification No. 450, B.E. 2567)
- Thai FDA – Consumer guidance on expiry and best-before dates (Thai)
- FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius – CXS 1-1985 General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (revised 2018)
Need manufacturing, best-before and LOT codes right on every pack?
Send us photos of your packaging and the text you need to print. Better Code will help you choose a date coder, set up the date format and run print tests on your real products.
