Information on Product Consumption Dates and "Short Date" Markings

Best Before vs Expiry Date — What’s the Difference?

There are two main types of date markings on food products in the European Union: “Best Before” and “Use By” (Expiry Date). They have very different meanings:

• Best Before indicates the date until which the product will maintain its optimal quality, taste and aroma if stored properly. After this date, the product is still safe to consume, but its flavor or nutritional properties may slowly decline. This applies to stable foods such as olive oil, honey, herbs or dried fruits.
• Use By / Expiry Date is shown on highly perishable products like fresh meat, fish or dairy. These products must not be eaten after this date, because they may become unsafe for health.

Extra virgin olive oil always carries a “Best Before” date — not an expiry date. Even after passing the best before date, it usually remains safe to consume if stored in a cool, dark and airtight environment, although it may taste milder or lose part of its aroma and antioxidant content.

Best Before Dates According to EU Regulations

Under EU regulations, the “best before” date for extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is typically set at 12–18 months from the bottling date (not from the harvest date). For virgin olive oil, it can be up to 36 months. This period is determined by the producer based on stability tests and storage conditions. After this date, the oil does not become unsafe — it simply may gradually lose its fresh aroma, fruitiness and health-promoting compounds (like polyphenols).

Our Direct Work with Producers

We work only directly with trusted and certified producers, which allows us to know everything about the production, storage and transport process. Each product in our store clearly states the harvest season (for example: 2023/2024) and often the exact harvest month. The early harvest, which yields the highest polyphenol content and the most intense taste, usually takes place in October. Other harvests follow in November–January.

Unlike industrial mass-market olive oils, which may legally use older oil blended with new harvests to achieve long best before dates, our oils come from a single, recent harvest and are bottled fresh. Each EVOO we offer comes with full documentation confirming its quality, including seasonal laboratory certificates (NMR, HPLC, polyphenol content, gallic acid equivalent, peroxide and acidity values) issued by scientific institutions. You can always find the best before date and additional information in the “Additional Info” tab on the product page.

Storage Conditions and Shelf Life

The shelf life of olive oil depends not only on the bottling date, but also on storage conditions. Olive oil should be stored in a cool, dark place, tightly closed, away from heat and light. Once opened, it is best consumed within 3–4 months to fully enjoy its fresh aroma and health benefits. We store our products in a temperature-controlled warehouse, shielded from sunlight, ensuring maximum freshness and quality upon delivery.

Product Rotation and “Short Date” Markings

Due to the high turnover of our products, most items you receive will have a long best before date. We continuously receive fresh deliveries directly from producers. Under the product description, you will always find up-to-date information about the best before date.

Sometimes, products with a shorter best before date (but still perfectly safe to use) are offered at a reduced price and clearly marked as “Short Date”. This also applies to products with slightly damaged packaging but intact content. Thanks to our efficient logistics and direct sourcing, we can offer very competitive prices for premium products — often lower than in Greece itself.

If you find the same product at a better price elsewhere, please let us know — we will be happy to review it. We always issue fiscal receipts or VAT invoices for all purchases.

New Store Platform and Functionalities

Our new store platform brings many improvements and new features. We especially encourage you to use the product filters to find what you need quickly. Below is a short video presentation of the new platform.