Direct answer. The DLC (French: date limite de consommation, or use-by date) is the date beyond which a perishable product — fresh food, meat, dairy — must no longer be sold or consumed, for health reasons. The DDM (date de durabilité minimale, or best-before date, which replaced the DLUO) indicates until when a product retains its optimal qualities, with no health risk beyond that point, but with a possible loss of taste.
DLC and DDM: two different stock-management logics
The distinction between DLC and DDM is not just a regulatory nuance: it shapes how physical stock is managed in a warehouse. A product under DLC (yogurt, fresh meat, ready meals) must absolutely leave stock before its date, or face mandatory recall and destruction, which is why strict rotation and rigorous batch control at receiving and shipping matter so much. A product under DDM (canned goods, pasta, dry goods) tolerates a date being passed without requiring immediate withdrawal: it can, for example, be directed to food donation once the DDM has passed, which is not possible for an expired DLC.
This constraint explains why warehouses handling short-DLC products (food, pharma) systematically apply the FEFO method (First Expired, First Out: the batch whose date expires soonest leaves first), a variant of FIFO management adapted to expiry dates rather than order of arrival in stock. Tracking DLC/DDM by batch is also central to the requirements of the "hygiene package" (upstream/downstream traceability, not mixing batches on the same pallet, maintaining the cold chain) in food warehouses.
FAQ
What is the difference between DLC and DDM?
The DLC (use-by date) applies to perishable foods: once passed, the product is unfit for consumption and must be withdrawn from sale. The DDM (best-before date) applies to more stable products: past this date, the product remains edible but may have lost some taste or nutritional quality, with no proven health risk.
Can a product past its DDM still be sold or donated?
Yes: unlike the DLC, exceeding the DDM does not require mandatory withdrawal. The product can be sold (sometimes flagged) or directed to food donation, subject to a visual check of its condition. This is a key point in managing unsold stock in a warehouse.
What is the link between the DLC and the FEFO method?
The FEFO method organizes stock outflow according to the nearest expiry date, rather than chronological order of arrival (FIFO). It becomes essential as soon as a warehouse handles products with a short DLC, to avoid losses and withdrawals linked to expired dates.
Related terms
FIFO / LIFO / FEFO · Cycle counting · Safety stock · Shrinkage · Warehouse / logistics platform · Cross-docking · SKU · Order picker (job role).
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