Food Date and Lot Marking Solutions for Small Businesses

Imagine spending months perfecting your homemade sauces or baked goods - only to discover you can't sell them legally because of missing or incorrect date markings.

Whether you're a small artisan producer, a growing independent food brand, or a home-based entrepreneur, correctly labelling your products is crucial.  Food date and batch markings aren't just regulations, they're essential for customer safety, truest, and even winning export deals.

In this guide, we'll break down:

• When to use use-by-dates, best-before dates, and batch codes
• The exemptions you might quality for
• A smart, affordable way to print date markings directly onto your packaging without needing expensive machinery

Let's dive into how you can stay compliant - and look professional doing it!

1. Understanding Use-By Dates
2. Understanding Best-Before and Best-Before-End Dates
3. Date Marking Exemptions
4. Lot and Batch Marking Requirements
5. Lot Marking Exemptions
6. Frozen Foods: Date of First Freezing
7. Key Food Labelling Legislations
8. How to Print Date and Lot Marking Affordably
9. Put REINER Printers to the Test
10. Request a Free Test Print

Use-by dates are mandatory for perishable foods that could pose health risks after a short period.

• Raw meat, fish, and poultry
• Cooked meat
• Dairy products
• Ready-made meals
• Salads and chopped vegetables
• Soft cheeses

Use this format: "Use by: day/month" (month in words, not numbers).  Example: "Use by: 14 AUG".  You can also add the year if desired, in either the full form (2021) or shortened (21).

Shelf life determines which format to use:

All date markings should be clear, visible, and not obscured in any way.

Some food items don't require date markings:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables (whole, uncut)
• Wine, sparkling wine, liqueur wine or similar drinks that are not made from grapes
• Fermented drinks, or mixtures of fermented and non-alcoholic drinks made from grapes
• Alcoholic of a strength of 10% by volume or more
• Fresh baked goods containing flour, such as pastries, cakes, and bread, that are usually unwrapped and consumed within 24 hours of baking.
• Vinegar
• Solid sugar and confectionery made almost solely of flavoured or coloured sugars
• Cooking salt
• Chewing gum

Lot and batch markings are essential for tracing products in case of recalls or other issues.

For small batches, a day/month format date mark may suffice as both the date and batch information.

As with date markings, all lot markings must be clear, visible, and unobscured.

Some cases where lot marking is not needed:

• Individual items that are not prepacked and are sold directly to the consumer. For example, sweets, fruit, and vegetables.
• Food that is prepacked on the premises of the seller, or where the purchaser requests that they are prepacked
• Items that are used as an accompaniment to another food provided at a catering establishment. For example, sugar, sauces, or salt sachets
• Single portions of ice cream
• Smaller batches of items that are indicated with a best before, best before end, or use-by date that consists of the day and month in word form. For example, 14 AUG

If you produce frozen meat or unprocessed fish, you must include:

• Format: "Frozen on: day/month/year"
• Example: "Frozen on: 14 AUG 2021"

For more information about labelling requirements and food regulations, we have added a few useful links below.

• Food Safety Act 1990
• Food (Lot Marking) Regulations 1996
• General Food Regulations 2004
• EU Regulations (EU) No. 1169/2011
• Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013
• Food Information Regulations 2014
• Food Information (Wales) Regulations 2014

Unless you're producing items in large factory lines, traditional inline printers may be too expensive.

REINER handheld inkjet printers offer:

• Affordable, professional-grade printing
• Compatibility with glass, metal, plastic, card, and paper
• Printing onto rough, smooth, or uneven surfaces
• No need for extra labels
• Compliance with Middle Eastern export rules requiring direct BB dates

You can print:

• Real-time dates and times
• Batch and lot numbers
• Logos and barcodes
• Directly onto your packaging, without damaging it

Whether you're just starting or scaling up, REINER handheld printers bridge the gap between small batches and full-scale production.  Our machines have helped countless small businesses grow, comply, and succeed globally.

• See real samples printed on your packaging
• Discover how easy it is to meet labelling laws
• No commitment required

(We'll get back to you within 24 hours.)

Keeping your labels compliant doesn't have to break the bank - with REINER, you get professional, versatile, and cost-effective solutions designed for small business owners like you!