Auf der Verpackung steht das Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum ganz unten.

Because auf can take either dative or accusative depending on meaning:

• Dative = location (where?): auf der Verpackung = on the packaging (already there).
• Accusative = movement/direction (where to?): auf die Verpackung = onto the packaging. In this sentence, the date is located on the packaging, so dative is used.

Because after auf (with a location meaning), German uses dative. The feminine noun die Verpackung changes to:

• Nominative: die Verpackung
• Dative: der Verpackung

Literally stehen means to stand, but in German it’s commonly used for text and information that is written/printed/shown somewhere:

• Auf dem Schild steht … = The sign says …
• Im Vertrag steht … = The contract states … So here steht means something like is printed/appears.

Both are possible, but the sentence starts with a prepositional phrase (Auf der Verpackung) in position 1. In a main clause, the conjugated verb must be in position 2 (V2 rule), so you get:

1. Auf der Verpackung (position 1)
2. steht (position 2)
3. das Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum (after the verb)

It’s nominative, because it’s the subject of steht:

• Das Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum steht … = The best-before date is (printed) … If it were an object, you’d see a different structure (but here it’s the thing that steht).

German forms compound nouns very freely. This one is:

• Mindest- = minimum
• Haltbarkeit = shelf life / durability
• Datum = date
  Together: Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum = best-before date (often abbreviated MHD).

Not exactly. In everyday English, people mix them up, but in German there’s a useful distinction:

• Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum: quality guarantee up to that date (often still OK after).
• Verfallsdatum / zu verbrauchen bis: use-by date (more strict; common for highly perishable foods). Your sentence specifically uses Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum (best-before).

German often puts information about place/position toward the end, and ganz unten works naturally as a final position phrase. You could also say:

• Ganz unten steht das Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum. That would emphasize right at the bottom more strongly by putting it first.

Yes, depending on context:

• die Verpackung = packaging (general)
• die Packung = a pack/box (common for food products)
• das Paket = parcel/package (often shipping-related) For groceries, auf der Packung is very common.

You can form a yes/no question by putting the verb first:

• Steht das Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum auf der Verpackung ganz unten?
  Or a wh-question:
• Wo steht das Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum? – Auf der Verpackung ganz unten.