Date labels are confusing and can lead to needlessly throwing away good food (and money!) With the exception of infant formula, date labels indicate product quality, not food safety.

 

The main criterion for determining food safety is the amount of time food spends in the temperature "danger zone" (40-120 degrees F). Trust your senses! Your eyes and nose can see and smell when food has gone bad. Be careful of foods pregnant women are told to avoid, like deli meats and unpasteurized dairy.

 

"Sell-by" date tells the store how long to display the product. You can store food past this date, as long as you follow safe storage procedures.

 

"Best if Used By (or Before)" date is placed by the manufacturer to indicate when the product will have the best flavor or quality. It is not a safety date.

 

"Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date is determined by manufacturers.

 

"Closed or coded dates" are packing numbers for use by the manufacturers.