If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me about food expiration dates, I could afford to buy a lot of the milk that gets tossed each week just for being one day “past.”
These questions come in by the dozen, from readers, neighbors, and once from a stranger in the dairy aisle holding a suspicious-looking yogurt cup like it was a ticking time bomb.
It’s no wonder. Between the “sell by,” “use by,” and “best before”—and “What the heck does this code mean?”—food packaging labels have become their own dialect. Most of us are just trying to avoid food poisoning without wasting good money or a perfectly decent sleeve of saltines.
That brings me to Bob D., who wrote:
Dear Mary: Can you clarify expiration dates on food products? When it says “sell by 8/01/25,” does that mean that it has to be used or just sold by that date? Others show a date of, say, 2/01/26 on canned or packaged goods. Does that mean that you need to use it by this date or what? Some canned or packaged products don’t seem to have any date that I can find. Why is that? I’m so confused! —Bob D.
Dear Bob: Short question, long answer. Here’s a breakdown of what those dates really mean and when to toss or keep:
‘Sell By’
This date is mainly for stores. It helps with shelf rotation so newer stock ends up behind older stock. A “sell by” date doesn’t mean that the food becomes unsafe after that day. For example, milk is often good for five to seven days past its “sell by” if kept cold.
You can freeze milk, cheese, or even bread just before the “sell by” and stretch your grocery dollar a little further.
‘Best Before’ and ‘Best If Used By’
These labels suggest when the food is at its best quality in terms of taste, texture, and appearance—not safety. That box of crackers or jar of peanut butter may taste a little stale afterward but is still perfectly safe to eat.‘Use By’ and ‘Expiration’
Now we’re getting serious. These labels—especially on dairy, deli meat, and refrigerated dough—mean that the manufacturer can’t guarantee safety after the printed date. Use your senses, but when in doubt, don’t risk it. This is the only date that typically implies a safety concern, especially with perishable items.Infant formula and baby food are the only products legally required to carry and adhere to expiration dates. Those should always be used exactly as labeled.
‘Guaranteed Fresh’
You'll see this on bakery goods. The donuts may still be edible after this date, but they may taste more like hockey pucks than baked treats. The label is about freshness, not safety.‘Pack Date’
This is when the item was packaged, not when it should be eaten. On eggs and some canned goods, it might show up as a Julian date (001 for Jan. 1, 365 for Dec. 31). It’s not meant for consumers, but it can help you guesstimate freshness.If you stumble across an item with no visible date, don’t panic. Not all foods are required to be labeled. Use your best judgment. If it smells weird, looks odd, or feels slimy, toss it.
A Word About Waste
Here’s the bigger issue: Americans throw away billions of pounds of food each year, often because of misunderstood date labels. That’s not just sad; it’s expensive. The average family of four wastes more than $1,800 annually in uneaten food. It’s like buying groceries, driving them home, and putting half directly in the trash.A Few Smart Tips
- Keep your fridge below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and use airtight containers.
- Use the “first in, first out” method to rotate pantry goods.
- Freeze meat, cheese, and bread near their “sell by” date.
- Don’t fear “best by.” It’s about quality, not safety.
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