Have you noticed that some of the jars, cans, and tubes in your pantry and bathroom closets have been there for—eons? Foods and some other products are labeled to indicate when they should be tossed, although dates can be confusing. You’re left in the dark with other products. Here’s a hint: From now on, avoid guesswork by marking those kinds of products with the date on which they were bought; then use this guide.
“Sell By”
This term simply tells the store how long to display the product. It is not an indication of when food becomes unsafe or even past its peak. Buy the product before the date, but it should still be fine after that. (Milk, for instance, should be OK for a week after its sell-by date.)
“Best if Used By (or Before)” or “Use By”
These indicate the recommended deadline for best flavor or quality, and it is determined by the manufacturer. It’s not a purchase deadline and doesn’t indicate that food is spoiled or unsafe. “Even if the date expires during home storage,” the Department of Agriculture says, “a product should be safe, wholesome, and of good quality if handled properly.”
Coded dates
Often on shelf-stable products such as canned goods, these date are packing numbers for use by the maker and might not mean anything to consumers. But toss any cans that are rusty, dented, or swollen.
Keep food at its freshest by learning how to organize your refrigerator and using a refrigerator thermometer. When you need to replace your refrigerator, check our refrigerator buying guide and Ratings.
Blurred words
A report by Harvard Law School and the Natural Resources Defense Council cited confusing food labeling as “one factor leading to an estimated 160 billion pounds of food trashed in the U.S. every year.” Except for infant formula, product dating is not required by federal regulations, and there’s no uniform system for food dating.
You don't want to waste money by discarding food unnecessarily. Read "'Expired' Food Is Often Safe to Eat" for more advice.
This article also appeared in the August 2014 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
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