Food date labels are often treated as deadlines for when a product must be thrown away, but for many packaged foods, the printed date is mainly an indication of quality rather than a guarantee that the food becomes unsafe on that day.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says manufacturers generally use date labels to indicate how long a food is expected to retain its desired quality and flavor. Federal law does not generally require manufacturers to put quality-based dates on packaged foods, except in cases such as infant formula.
That means terms such as “Sell By,” “Best if Used By” and “Use By” can have different meanings.
A “Sell By” date is primarily intended to help retailers manage how long a product should remain on display. A “Best if Used By” date generally indicates when a product is expected to have its best flavor or quality. USDA guidance says these dates are not generally safety dates.
The FDA supports the use of “Best if Used By” as a standard quality-based label, while noting that manufacturers currently use a variety of date-labeling terms. The agencies have also said confusion over date labels contributes to food waste.
The date is only part of the picture
Whether food remains suitable to eat depends on more than the date printed on the package.
Storage conditions, handling and the condition of the package can affect food quality and safety. Food that has been improperly stored may become unsafe even if the printed date has not passed.
Consumers should also pay attention to visible or noticeable changes in a product. The FDA advises avoiding food when there are signs of spoilage or when its color, consistency or texture has changed noticeably. Damaged, leaking or otherwise compromised packaging can also be a warning sign.
For refrigerated foods, temperature control is particularly important. Perishable food should be kept properly refrigerated because bacteria can multiply when food is stored at unsafe temperatures.
Some foods can remain usable beyond the printed date
Shelf-stable foods such as canned products can remain usable for extended periods when they are properly stored and the containers remain intact. The printed date alone does not establish that such food has suddenly become unsafe.
The same principle does not apply equally to every food. Fresh meat, poultry, dairy products and other perishable foods require more careful attention to refrigeration and storage time.
Eggs provide one example. USDA guidance says refrigerated eggs can generally be kept for three to five weeks from the date they are placed in the refrigerator. The sell-by date on the carton may pass during that period without necessarily meaning the eggs are unsafe.
There are also important exceptions to the general rule about date labels. Infant formula, for example, should not be used after its use-by date.
The broader point is that a date printed on a food package should not automatically be treated as the moment the food becomes inedible. Consumers need to consider what the particular label means, how the food was stored and whether there are signs that it has spoiled.
Date labels can help consumers judge quality and freshness, but they are only one part of food-safety decisions.
