Understand Expiration Dates

People frequently throw perfectly safe products without understanding what the actual meaning of the food expiration date is. This contributed to over half of the food people buy in the United States is wasted, which is a major problem.

The words “use by” or “expires after” on food packaging also don’t mean that the food is unsafe after that date. The distinction between "use-by" and "best before" dates is substantial. When a food packaging has a "sell by" date, the manufacturer is informing the retailer how long to keep the item on display for sales. It is not a time safety date or directive to the consumer at all. The food is not always thrown out the next day just because it has beyond its "sell by" date. The same as "best by" dates, the product may not necessarily be ruined or a potential source of foodborne disease based on these dates. Instead, they suggest that beyond that date, the product will start to change or lose its freshness. For instance, artificial colors may fade or liquid substances may separate. So use your best judgment when deciding whether the food that is slightly past its expiration date is safe to eat.