Reading Spanish food labels, expiry dates and quality marks

Terms used

• Fecha de caducidad — The fecha de caducidad is the use-by date: after it the food is unsafe and must not be sold or eaten.
• Consumir preferentemente antes de — Consumir preferentemente antes de means best before: a quality date, after which food is usually still safe if stored well.
• Nutri-Score — The Nutri-Score is a voluntary A to E colour label rating a product's overall nutritional quality per 100 g or ml.
• DOP — DOP is the protected designation of origin: the product is made entirely in a defined area and owes its quality to it.
• IGP — IGP is the protected geographical indication: at least one production stage happens in the defined area, linked to its quality or reputation.
• ETG — ETG is the traditional speciality guaranteed mark: it protects a traditional recipe or method, not a place.

Key rules

• Caducidad: Never eat food past its fecha de caducidad, because that date is about safety.
• Best before: Food past its best-before date is usually fine if it was stored well and looks and smells normal.
• Nutri-Score: Nutri-Score is voluntary and only useful for comparing similar products.
• Organic logo: The organic logo does not guarantee pesticide-free food.
• Spanish labels: Required label information must be in Spanish on food sold in Spain.

Two dates, two meanings

The date wording tells you whether you can still eat the food.

Fecha de caducidad is a safety date. It appears on highly perishable foods, such as fresh meat, fish and ready-made salads. After this date the food is unsafe. It cannot be sold, and you should not eat it. Throw it away.

Consumir preferentemente antes de is a quality date. It covers taste and texture, not safety. The food can stay on sale after it, and you can eat it if it was stored properly and looks, smells and tastes normal. Shops may mark it down. Spain's food waste law encourages selling or donating products past this date.

Nutri-Score: a quick comparison, not a health verdict

Nutri-Score is a front-of-pack label with letters from A (dark green) to E (dark orange or red). A is the most favourable nutritional rating and E the least. It is voluntary: companies choose whether to use it, so many products have none.

The score is per 100 g or 100 ml. It counts energy, sugars, saturated fat and salt against fibre, protein, and fruit, vegetables and pulses. Use it to compare similar products, such as two breakfast cereals. It does not say that a food is healthy or unhealthy in absolute terms.

Protected-origin marks

These are EU marks. Only producers who meet the official specification may use the name, and control bodies inspect them. These are usually the regional authority or an accredited certifier.

• DOP: made, processed and prepared entirely in a defined area, and its quality is essentially due to that area.
• IGP: at least one production stage happens in the defined area, and the quality or reputation is linked to it.
• ETG: protects a traditional recipe or method. It is not tied to a place.

Wine and spirits have their own separate schemes.

The EU organic logo

The green EU leaf logo is mandatory on pre-packaged EU organic products. It appears with a control body code, which in Spain looks like ES-ECO-0XX followed by a region or body, and with the origin of the raw materials, for example "EU agriculture".

In Spain the words "ecológico", "biológico" and "orgánico", and the prefix "bio", are protected. Organic production means no synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, no GMOs, restricted additives, and organic feed and animal-welfare rules for livestock. Operators are inspected at least once a year.

What it does not promise:

• It does not mean pesticide-free, because unavoidable contamination is possible.
• It says nothing about nutritional value.
• "Bio" on its own does not tell you where the product comes from.

Language on the label

Required information must be in Spanish (castellano) on pre-packed food sold in Spain. This covers the name, ingredients, allergens, dates and producer details. Catalan, Galician, Basque, Valencian or other languages may be added, but they do not replace Spanish. Rules for loose food and small producers can differ in detail.

The questions below answer common follow-ups.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still eat food after its 'consumir preferentemente antes de' date?

Yes, you can usually still eat food after its best-before date if it was stored properly and looks and smells fine. The date is about quality, such as taste and texture, not safety. Shops may keep selling it, often at a lower price, and Spain encourages donating or selling such products instead of binning them.

What should I do with food past its 'fecha de caducidad'?

Throw away food that is past its fecha de caducidad, because it is no longer considered safe. Shops cannot sell it, and you should not eat it even if it looks fine. This date appears on highly perishable foods that could harm your health.

Is Nutri-Score compulsory on Spanish packaging?

No, Nutri-Score is voluntary, so companies choose whether to put it on their products. Its letters run from A (dark green, most favourable) to E (dark orange or red, least favourable), per 100 g or ml.

Does the EU organic logo mean a product is pesticide-free?

No, the organic logo means no synthetic pesticides or fertilisers were used, but it does not guarantee zero pesticide traces. Unavoidable contamination is possible. Look for the code starting ES-ECO next to the logo, which identifies the certifier, and remember the label says nothing about nutritional value.

Must food labels in Spain be in Spanish?

Yes, the required information on pre-packed food sold in Spain must be at least in Castilian Spanish. Catalan, Galician, Basque, Valencian or other languages can be added but cannot replace it. This covers the name, ingredients, allergens, date marking and company details.