Does the expiry date tell you whether a product is still usable?

The date is attached to storage conditions

The FDA explains that medicine expiry dates are based on stability under the labelled conditions. The date does not mean a medicine becomes unsafe at an exact instant. It also does not prove the medicine remains effective after expiry or poor storage. Follow the label and ask a pharmacist about replacement or continuing treatment if needed.12

Opening and changing containers

Some products have a separate limit after opening, preparation or first use. Moving a medicine to a pill organiser or another bottle can change its protection from light or moisture and separate it from its identifying label. The effect depends on the product. Keep the original instructions and ask a pharmacist about your medicine.

For example, the January 2026 US FDA label says to keep Rybelsus and Ozempic tablets in their original closed bottle until use, not another container. This applies to those US tablets, not every semaglutide product; see the product-specific guide. Follow the label for any desiccant rather than assuming it is safe to remove or ingest.324

What sight and smell can—and cannot—tell you

A changed appearance, broken seal, unusual smell or signs of contamination are reasons to check the product and label. But a product that looks unchanged is not necessarily still potent, pure or sterile. Do not taste a product to test it.1

Medicines are not the same as food dates

A food’s best-before or use-by date and a supplement label are not automatically equivalent to a medicine expiry date. Terms also differ by country. Read the exact label and consult the appropriate local authority; this guide cannot give a universal extension.

See protein powder and drink storage, probiotic storage and expiry, and vitamin A forms and amounts.1