Several countries across Europe, North America, Australia, and the Middle East require expiry or best-before dates on egg cartons under food safety laws. However, many consumers still rely on home tests to check egg freshness beyond the printed date.

Food safety authorities in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East enforce regulations requiring egg producers to display best-before or expiry dates on cartons. In the EU, the law mandates a best-before date 28 days after the eggs are laid. Similar rules apply in the U.S. and other Western countries.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Dubai Municipality enforces strict labeling rules distinguishing between best before, expiry date, and production date. Eggs and other refrigerated items must display an expiry date that indicates the maximum time they can be safely consumed, according to Khaleejtimes.

In Saudi Arabia, authorities have debated expiry date policies for poultry products, including eggs. In 2022, they considered reducing the shelf life of frozen chicken imports but withdrew the plan after international consultation, as reported by just-food.com.

These expiry laws were introduced largely due to concerns over Salmonella contamination, a bacterial infection linked to eggs. Food safety scares in the 1980s and 1990s prompted regulators to mandate expiry labeling to protect consumers. According to the European Food Safety Authority, clear date labels help reduce the risk of illness and encourage safer storage practices.

Expiry dates vs consumer habits

Despite the expiry dates, many people continue to use eggs beyond the best-before date, especially if stored correctly. Food safety experts point out that eggs can remain safe for weeks after the expiry date if refrigerated properly.

This has led to growing debate over whether expiry labels unnecessarily contribute to food waste. Many food waste campaigners argue that millions of eggs are discarded each year even though they are still safe to eat.

Explainer: How to check if an egg is still fresh

If you want to assess egg freshness at home, here are simple and reliable methods:

Float Test: Place the egg in a bowl of water.

Sinks and lays flat: Fresh.

Stands upright: Older but usable.

Floats: Likely spoiled.

Shake Test: Shake the egg gently.

If you hear a sloshing sound, the egg is old.

Sniff Test: Crack the egg open and smell it.

A strong, unpleasant odor means it’s bad.

Visual Check: Look at the egg white and yolk.

Watery whites and weak yolk mean the egg is aged but may be safe.

Discoloration or unusual appearance means spoilage.