Some uk supermarkets have started dropping the use by date in favour of codes like this. www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45786012 The article says it’s to reduce waste and that staff will have special training to know when to bin stuff. I imagine the training is in how to read the codes.

Fresh produce has it here in there Netherlands as well. Or our supermarket has for the last few years, a letter specifies the day of the week (Monday = A) and then the week number.

Week number we printed on the sticker machines and stuck on the start of every isle just to make it easier.