Korean MFDS Use-by date system (effective Jan 2023). Compare Korean sell-by vs use-by days and storage for 20 common foods, with auto-expiry calculation from manufacture date. Korea's milk rule begins 2031.
| Food | Sell-by | Use-by | Diff (days) | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instant noodles (room temp.) | 150 | 240 | +90 | Room temp ≤25°C |
| Pasteurized milk (chilled) | 14 | 45 | +31 | Chilled (0–10°C) — note: Korean expiry rule for milk applies from 2031 |
| Yogurt (chilled) | 14 | 24 | +10 | Chilled (0–10°C) |
| Eggs (chilled) | 30 | 50 | +20 | Chilled (0–5°C) |
| White bread (room temp.) | 3 | 20 | +17 | Room temp / freezer |
| Tofu (chilled) | 14 | 23 | +9 | Chilled (0–10°C) |
| Instant rice (room temp.) | 270 | 540 | +270 | Room temp |
| Kimchi (chilled) | 30 | 100 | +70 | Chilled (0–10°C) |
| Jam (sealed, room) | 365 | 1095 | +730 | Room (chill after opening) |
| Butter (chilled) | 180 | 200 | +20 | Chilled (0–5°C) |
| Natural cheese (chilled) | 180 | 250 | +70 | Chilled (0–10°C) |
| Ham (processed, chilled) | 38 | 57 | +19 | Chilled (0–10°C) |
| Sesame oil (room) | 540 | 750 | +210 | Room (avoid sunlight) |
| Cooking oil (room) | 540 | 800 | +260 | Room |
| Frozen dumplings | 270 | 365 | +95 | Frozen ≤−18°C |
| Soft drinks (room) | 90 | 180 | +90 | Room |
| Juice (chilled) | 30 | 45 | +15 | Chilled |
| Sausage (chilled) | 14 | 21 | +7 | Chilled (0–10°C) |
| Fish cake (chilled) | 30 | 42 | +12 | Chilled (0–10°C) |
| Salted seafood (chilled) | 200 | 300 | +100 | Chilled |
| Old (≤ 2022) | Sell-by (Korean Yutonggihan) |
| New (2023+) | Use-by (Korean Sobigihan) |
| Grace period | Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2023 |
| Korean milk exception | From Jan 1, 2031 (cold-chain readiness) |
| Korean legal basis | Food Labeling & Advertising Act enforcement rule, Annex 4 |
| Frozen (≤ −18°C) | Long-term safety, gradual quality loss |
| Chilled (0–10°C) | Safe to use-by (shorter once opened) |
| Room temp (15–25°C) | Avoid sunlight & heat to keep within use-by |
| After opening | Use-by no longer valid — eat soon |
This South Korea–only reference compiles Korean MFDS Food Safety Korea 2024 use-by data (April 2026 reference). Days vary by manufacturer, packaging and storage; the actual Korean product label always takes priority. Korea's use-by rule for milk is scheduled from January 1, 2031 (subject to legislation). The calculator is non-binding — Korean infants, pregnant women, and immunocompromised should observe label dates strictly and discard on visible/odor changes. For Korean food-safety questions, call Korea's Food Safety Hotline 1399 (weekdays 9 AM–6 PM). This is not medical or nutritional advice.
Korea's MFDS replaced Sell-by (Korean 유통기한) with Use-by (Korean 소비기한) on January 1, 2023, with a one-year grace period during 2023. Use-by reflects how long a product remains safe under proper storage, typically 20–50% longer than Sell-by. Korean milk's transition is delayed to January 1, 2031 to allow Korean cold-chain modernization. Always defer to the printed label.
If the Korean label says Sell-by, the safety margin is usually longer but depends on storage. If the Korean label says Use-by, discard after the date.
Korea needs cold-chain stability to safely use the longer use-by window. Korean MFDS gave 8 years to upgrade infrastructure.
Korean MFDS 2024 data shows ~30% (range 15–80%): noodles +60d, milk +31d, tofu +9d, bread +17d, instant rice +270d.
Use-by no longer applies once opened. Korean MFDS guidance: eat within 3–7 days chilled, or follow any 'consume within N days' label.
Safety stays long, quality declines. Korean home freezer (−18°C): meat 3–6 months, vegetables 8–12 months, bread 1–3 months.
No — Korean botulism, salmonella have no odor. Discard on any abnormality and never feed expired food to infants/pregnant/immunocompromised.
Korea's MFDS shifted from Sell-by (Yutonggihan) to Use-by (Sobigihan) labeling on January 1, 2023 under the Korean Food Labeling & Advertising Act enforcement rule, with a one-year grace period (2023). Korean milk applies the new system from January 1, 2031 due to cold-chain readiness. This page compares Korean sell-by vs use-by reference values from Korean Food Safety Korea (foodsafetykorea.go.kr) 2024 data for 20 foods — instant noodles 150→240d, milk 14→45d (Korea 2031+), yogurt 14→24d, eggs 30→50d, bread 3→20d, tofu 14→23d, instant rice 270→540d, kimchi 30→100d, jam 365→1,095d, butter 180→200d, natural cheese 180→250d, ham 38→57d, sesame oil 540→750d, cooking oil 540→800d, frozen dumplings 270→365d, soft drinks 90→180d, juice 30→45d, sausage 14→21d, fish cake 30→42d, salted seafood 200→300d — and auto-calculates expiry from a manufacture date. Use-by typically runs 20–50% longer than Korean Sell-by but varies by manufacturer/packaging; the printed Korean label always wins. Korean infants, pregnant women, and immunocompromised must observe the printed Use-by, and discard immediately on visible or odor changes. Confirm Korean specifics at MFDS (mfds.go.kr), Food Safety Korea (foodsafetykorea.go.kr), or the Korean Food Safety Hotline 1399 (weekdays 9 AM–6 PM). Applies to the Republic of Korea.