Understanding expiration dates

Jun 29

here’s the truth

Food expiration dates have nothing to do with safety and are only loosely related to quality. They’re the manufacturer’s best estimate of when the product is at its freshest or “peak quality.” Many foods will stay good to eat days, weeks, or even months after those dates, depending on the food type. Except for infant formula, dates are not an indicator of the product’s safety and are not regulated by federal law.

Best Before

“Best before” dates refer to quality rather than food safety. It’s the date before which the brand stands by its product (unless it’s opened or left out in warm temperatures). Foods with a “best before” date should be safe to eat after the date has passed, but they may no longer be at their very best quality. This is also true for “best by,” “best if used by,” “use by,” “enjoy by,” and other similar expressions.

The Nose Knows

Use your eyes and your nose. For the most part, you can trust your senses to know when food has gone bad. Milk, yogurt, juice, sauces—they can all be subject to the sniff or taste test. Even meat that looks a little faded or gray is okay to eat. The products to be careful with are those that pregnant women need to avoid—like deli meats and unpasteurized dairy products—and anything with mold.

Sell By

You can ignore “sell by” dates as they are meant for grocery store staff. Manufacturers date their products so that even if they are purchased on the sell by date, they will maintain quality shelf-life for some time. Spoiled foods will develop an unappealing odor, flavor, or texture due to naturally occurring spoilage bacteria. If a food has developed such spoilage characteristics, it should not be eaten.