First: What is MHD?
MHD = Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum (minimum shelf life date)
It is a date stating that the product is “at least” good until that day –
it does not mean that the product must be removed from sale immediately after that date.
After this date:
Selling the product is not automatically prohibited by law.
But: you must check carefully that the product is still safe to consume.
You should also communicate clearly to the consumer if the product is close to or past its MHD.
Second: Difference between MHD and Verbrauchsdatum (use-by date)
| Type | Meaning | Selling after the date? |
|---|---|---|
| MHD | “Best before …” / “at least good until …” | Yes, possible – after a quality check |
| Verbrauchsdatum | “Use by …” (e.g. for raw meat) | No – sale is prohibited after this date |
Fresh meat and fish usually carry a Verbrauchsdatum (use-by date),
because they are highly perishable and pose a higher health risk.
Third: Can you reduce the price before the MHD expires?
Yes – and it is actually recommended to avoid waste and financial loss.
Conditions:
Put a clear sticker / label on the product, for example:
„Kurz vor Ablauf des MHD – jetzt reduziert!“
or „Mindestens haltbar bis: xx.xx.xxxx – jetzt günstiger!“
Make sure that the product:
shows no changes in colour, smell or taste,
has been stored correctly (according to the required cooling or dry conditions).
Keep internal documentation that you have manually checked the product
(e.g. a note or entry in a simple checklist).
Fourth: Can you sell a product after the MHD has expired?
Yes, but only under strict conditions:
| Condition | Mandatory? |
|---|---|
| Manual inspection of the product | Yes |
| No change in taste or food safety | Yes |
| Clear information to the consumer | Yes – for example with a label such as: „Abgelaufenes MHD, aber noch genießbar“ (“Expired MHD, but still edible”) |
| Only for long-lasting, dry products (e.g. pasta, canned food, biscuits) | Yes |
| Not allowed for chilled or highly sensitive products | Yes – sale is prohibited |
In practice, this means:
Dry goods (pasta, rice, canned products, biscuits, coffee, etc.)
can sometimes still be sold after the MHD if they have passed a careful quality check.
Chilled and sensitive products (e.g. yoghurt, fresh meat, fresh milk, fish)
should not be sold after the MHD – and products with a Verbrauchsdatum (use-by date) must never be sold after that date.
Fifth: Sample label for reduced products close to their MHD
Example 1:
Dieses Produkt ist mindestens haltbar bis: 18.06.2025
Jetzt reduziert – Qualität geprüft, noch genießbar!
Example 2:
Kurz vor Ablauf – Jetzt zum Sonderpreis!
MHD: 20.06.2025
These kinds of labels show:
the customer when the MHD is reached,
that the quality has been checked,
and that the lower price is linked to the date.
Sixth: Do you have to document these procedures?
Legally, documentation is not strictly mandatory,
but it is strongly recommended as protection in case of an inspection.
A simple record (Excel file or notebook) could include:
Product name
Quantity of reduced items
Date of inspection
Date of price reduction
Name of the employee who performed the check
With this, you can prove to the food safety authorities
that you acted carefully and responsibly.
Seventh: Possible violations and consequences
| Mistake | Possible consequences |
|---|---|
| Selling a product past its MHD without inspection | Fine imposed by the food safety authority (Lebensmittelaufsicht) |
| Selling a product with an expired Verbrauchsdatum (use-by date) | Serious offence – can lead to temporary closure of the business |
| No explanatory label on reduced / expired MHD products | Warning or fine, depending on the severity |
The authors and editorial team of the website strive to provide accurate information based on thorough research and consultation of several sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or individual details may remain uncertain. Please therefore regard the information in this article as an initial orientation only and always contact the relevant authorities or professionals if you need binding and officially confirmed information.
