Expiration, Sell-By, Use-Before, and Use-By
Dates on Foods and Other Packaging Terms: What Do They Mean?
Often people open up their refrigerators and look in their pantry only to find foods with
questionable integrity. Some people trust their noses. Others look for visible signs of mold or
deterioration. Figuring out the difference between the “expiration,” “sell by,” “use before,” and
“use by” dates may leave some people scratching their heads.
While it is always better that you are safe rather than sorry, the following guidelines and
information should help to take the guesswork out of determining whether or not your food is
good to eat.
The twentieth century ushered in the age of packaged foods, making use of preservatives and
innovative packaging to lengthen the shelf-life of many foods. Most packaged foods include
some type of expiration, sell-by or use-by date imprinted on the container. Figuring out the
intent of that date is not always an easy matter. Even the general industry terms for it, opendating and closed dating, raise questions.
Expiration date
You may be surprised to learn that dating is not required by US federal law, with the exception
of infant formula and baby foods which must be withdrawn by their expiration date. For all
other foods, except dairy products in some states, freshness dating is strictly voluntary on the
part of manufacturers. To further shake your confidence, stores are not legally required to
remove outdated products from their shelves. So, it's the old caveat even when it comes to
food: Buyer beware and always read the label.
The expiration date is the last day the food is safe to eat. If you have not consumed it by this
date, throw it away. After the expiration date, it may cause someone to become sick if
consumed.
This is the most to the point, simple food label there is – it means exactly what it says! If the
expiration date is past, don’t use it.
If you haven't used the product by this date, toss it out. Other dating terms are used as a basic
guideline, but this one means what it says.
Canned goods frequently carry Expiration Dates. The length of freshness varies
depending on the amount of acids in the canned goods. Canned foods like peas and
carrots contain low amounts of acid and have a shelf life of 2 to 5 years. High-acid
canned foods like citrus fruits and tomatoes have a shelf life of only a year to a year and
a half.
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Sell by date
In retail, this is the date that is printed for the supermarket. If the item has not sold by this
date, the store should remove it from the shelf. It still may remain safe for consumption, if
eaten after the marked date. Depending on the food, you still can store these items in your
home for days to weeks after the sell by date.
In retail, the “sell-by” term you often see on food product labels refers to the last day have the
product on display on a store shelf. It is believed that food items are safe to eat for up to 10
days after the “sell-by” date, if kept properly stored.
This date is used by manufacturers to tell the seller when to remove their product from the
shelves, but there is generally still some leeway for usage
Meat and Poultry usually have “sell-by” dates to look for. If you do not intend to use the
meat you purchase within 1 or 2 days of purchasing it, it is recommended that you
freeze it. The same recommendation pertains to poultry within in 3 to 5 days of its
purchase. By freezing these items you can keep them fresh for up to a year.
Milk should last 5 to 7 days after the sell by date, while cheeses can range up to two
weeks after the sell by date for soft cheeses such as cream cheese or Brie. For harder
cheeses such as cheddar or Romano, shelf life is anywhere from three to six months
after the sell by date, if stored properly. To keep foods fresh, refrigerator temperatures
are recommended to be 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
Dates listed on egg cartons are sometimes confused with expiration dates. These dates
are guidelines for consumers after the point of purchase. Eggs are edible raw for up to 5
weeks after the date as long as they are not cracked or damaged in anyway.
Best if used before or by
The best if used before or by date means the food has a guarantee of peak freshness by this
date, if it is properly stored. After that date, it will still remain safe to consume for a while,
although it will have a lesser quality of taste, flavor, or nutrition.
The “use-by” date refers to the final day that the product will be at its optimum freshness,
flavor, and texture. After this recommended date, the food taste deteriorates. It may still be
edible, but flavor and texture will not be at their peak.
With emphasis on the best qualifier in this term, it means the product should retain maximum
freshness, flavor and texture if used by this date. It is not a purchase-by or safety date. Beyond
this date, the product begins to deteriorate, although it may still be edible.
Baked goods and snack foods generally sport Use-By Date labels. Many snacks and
bread products contain preservatives that help them last longer. So, if the use-by date
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on your bread or snack expires, it doesn’t necessarily mean that its gone bad. Snacks
such as potato chips, crackers, pretzels, and popcorn last long after their “Use-By” date.
For example, popcorn can last for up to two years. To keep baked goods fresh, store
them in a plastic bag and place them in the freezer or refrigerator.
Beverages also often carry Use-By dates. For instance, water bottles usually have a twoyear “Use-By” date printed on their label, but if the bottle is unopened, it is generally
safe to drink.
Guaranteed fresh
This date is often used for perishable baked goods. Beyond this date, freshness is no longer
guaranteed although it may still be edible.
Pack date
This is the date the item was packed, most-used on canned and boxed goods. It is usually in the
form of an encrypted code not easy to decipher. It may be coded by month (M), day (D), and
year (Y), such as YYMMDD or MMDDYY. Or it may be coded using Julian (JJJ) numbers, where
January 1 would be 001 and December 31 would be 365. In even more convoluted coding,
letters A through M (omitting the letter I) are often assigned to the months, with A being
January and M being December, plus a numeric day, either preceded or followed by the
numeric year.
Managing foods
For an exhaustive list of how to manage foods, visit the following Web sites:
• Cold storage chart: (http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/food/cooking4groups/8.htm)
• Foods purchased refrigerated:
(http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/food/cooking4groups/9.htm)
Food storage tips & hints
• Once opened, many of the dates become obsolete since the contents now become
perishable. It is advisable to use products as quickly as possible after opening.
• Be sure to refrigerate leftovers in a covered container (not a can) and use within 3 to 5 days.
• Some canned goods (such as condiments and pickled items) will still retain some longevity if
refrigerated. Most condiments will have a warning to refrigerate after opening if necessary, so
check the packaging carefully.
• When buying foods, always check the expiration date. Select the date farthest in the future
for optimum shelf-life.
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• Take a tip rotate your stock at home, using FIFO method. Rather than trying to decipher
cryptic codes on cans, use a marker to write the purchase date on cans and packaged foods to
help you judge the age.
• Regardless of the expiration date, do not take a chance on cans that are bulging or oozing
from the seam. Dented cans should also be avoided.
• Many baking mixes contain dehydrated fats which can become rancid with time or leaveners
that may lose their potency. Check the date.
• Optimum storage temperature for canned goods is 65 degrees F. Higher storage
temperatures can reduce shelf-life by up to 50 percent.
• Most canned goods can be stored up to 1 year under optimum temperature. Citrus fruits,
fruit juices, pickles, peppers, sauerkraut, green beans, asparagus, beets, and all tomato
products should be used within 6 months. If summer heat brings your kitchen temperature to
75 degrees F. or above, even for a short time period, cut those storage times in half.
• Canned foods should never be frozen. The expansion can split the seams of the can or break
the glass container.
• In general, foods canned in glass have a longer shelf-life. However, they must be stored in the
dark since light can accelerate some natural chemical reactions.
• Examine cellophane, plastic, and box packages to be sure they are not punctured or torn.
Once the seal is penetrated, the integrity of the contents is compromised.
•Quickly store and place food items into proper storage.
• The bottom line: Trust your eyes and nose. If it looks bad and/or smells bad, toss it out.
References
Office of Citizen Services and Communications, US Government Services Administration. Deciphering good expiration dates.
Available at: http://blog.usa.gov/roller/govgab/entry/deciphering_food_expiration_dates. Accessed November 17, 2009.
Wood D. Nothing simple about food dating, expiration dates or ‘use by’ dates: most product dates relate to quality rather than
safety. Available at: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/08/expiration_dates.html. Accessed November 17, 2009.
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