FORKARIUMPETTY COURT
FORKARIUM

CASE #016: The Yogurt Past Its Date

In Korea, what is the difference between the sell-by date and the use-by date?

The parties are fictional. The evidence is real.

VERIFIED FACTS

Every sentence here links to an official source you can open.

The verdict

SPLIT DECISION

They are different dates. Korea's food safety ministry says the sell-by date (유통기한) is how long a product may be sold from the date it was made, while the use-by date (소비기한) is how long it is safe to eat if stored as labeled. Korea began labeling use-by dates on January 1, 2023, and the ministry asks people to eat products with a sell-by date by that date, and products with a use-by date by that date.[1]

1 official source: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Korea (식품의약품안전처), via Korea.krChecked Oct 29, 2026

The evidence

A yogurt cup with a blank lid next to a sticky note on a fridge door

Exhibit A

Ministry of Food and Drug Safety: the use-by date is how long it is safe to eat if you follow the storage method on the label. The sell-by date is how long it may be sold to consumers from the date of manufacture.

Exhibit B

Ministry of Food and Drug Safety: use-by labeling began on January 1, 2023. Refrigerated milk follows from January 1, 2031, after cold storage is improved.

Exhibit C

Ministry of Food and Drug Safety: sell-by dates are set at 60 to 70% of a product's quality and safety limit, and use-by dates at 80 to 90%.

Questions people ask

Why does milk in Korea still show a sell-by date?

The ministry says refrigerated milk moves to use-by dates from January 1, 2031, after cold storage conditions are improved.

Can you eat food after its sell-by date?

For now, the ministry asks people to eat products labeled with a sell-by date within that date, and products labeled with a use-by date within that date.

DRAMATIZATION

This part is made up for fun. Names, people and events are fictional.

The case

A strict roommate pointing at a trash bin and a roommate sniffing an open yogurt cup with a spoon
PlaintiffThe Roommate Who Throws It Out
DefendantThe Roommate Who Sniffs First

Timeline

  1. Wed 7:30 AMThe plaintiff finds a yogurt dated yesterday and drops it in the bin.
  2. 7:31 AMThe defendant takes it back out, sniffs it, and declares it perfect.
  3. 7:32 AMNeither has read which kind of date is printed on the lid.
  4. 7:35 AMA complaint is filed on the fridge door, by sticky note.

The claims

Plaintiff: The Roommate Who Throws It Out

The date is the date. After that, it goes in the bin.

Defendant: The Roommate Who Sniffs First

That date is just for the shop. My nose has the final say.

A pug judge in a powdered wig hears a roommate holding a trash bin accuse a roommate sniffing a yogurt cup

The court's sentence

SPLIT DECISION. READ WHICH DATE IT IS.

SentenceBoth parties are ordered to read the label out loud before acting: first which kind of date it is, then the date. The yogurt, if still within its use-by date and kept cold, may be eaten in peace.

Sources

  1. Source 1

    Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Korea (식품의약품안전처), via Korea.kr

    Q&A로 알아보는 '소비기한 표시제' ①

    www.korea.kr/news/healthView.do?newsId=148911057

    Published Jan 30, 2023Checked Oct 29, 2026

    식품 등에 표시된 보관방법을 준수할 경우 섭취하여도 안전에 이상이 없는 기한을 말합니다 ... 제품의 제조일로부터 소비자에게 판매가 허용되는 기한 ... 소비기한 표시제는 2023년 1월 1일부터 시행됩니다. ... 냉장 환경을 개선한 후 2031년 1월 1일부터 적용됩니다 ... 당분간은 유통기한 표시제품은 유통기한 내, 소비기한 표시제품은 소비기한 내로 섭취하시기 바람 ... 유통기한은 '품질안전한계기간'의 60~70% 시점, 소비기한 80~90% 시점으로 설정하나
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