What does the date on food packaging actually mean? There are two types: a ‘best before’ date and a ‘use by’ date. Not everyone interprets these correctly, which means food and drink sometimes end up in the bin unnecessarily. That’s why Food Waste-Free Week 2025 is putting extra focus on food expiry. On 8 September, Queen Máxima will officially open the week in Veghel. Throughout the week, until 14 September, we’re encouraging people in the Netherlands to throw away less food.