What Do Label Expiration Dates Really Mean?

 Ever wondered what those label expiration dates really mean? I purchased a product and was curious about what the “best by” date means. 

I immediately called the company for an explanation and was told “the Best By date isn’t a safety date. The salsa is perfectly safe to eat for at least a year or two.” This statement did little to inspire confidence in our customers.

I realized that, despite being a Registered Dietitian, I knew very little about labeling rules and regulations, and decided it was time to find out the details.

What Do “Best By” Dates Mean?

I went straight to the source and contacted the local branch of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which told me that they do not require food manufacturers to put “Best Used By” or “Sell By” dates on packaged food products.

The one exception to the rule is infant formulas. Federal regulations require a “Use By” date on infant formula labels. This indicates that products used by this date contain the minimum amount of nutrients listed on the label. It is NOT a statement of safety. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has similar guidelines and also does not mandate the inclusion of food expiration dates.

So why are the dates even there, and what do they mean? Food manufacturers can choose to label their food products with a date to indicate when they believe the product is at its peak quality. Some states require such labels. However, there is no universal system in place to determine these dates, leaving companies to use their best guess to determine what they think represents their products’ peak quality and freshness. 

In most cases, products can be safely eaten after these dates if stored in suitable conditions. Consumers unnecessarily discard hundreds of thousands of products each year that are still safe to use. In fact, a study by Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic found that nearly 20% of food waste in people’s homes is caused by confusing date labelling.

Common Label Expiration Dates on Packaged Foods

Here are some common label expiration dates on packaged foods you may have come across, along with their meanings. 

“Best Used By” or “Best Used Before”

These dates indicate the recommended shelf life for optimal flavor, color, and quality of a product. The food can safely be used past this date. In the case of our salsa, it can be used up to 18 months past the date or possibly longer.

“Sell By”

These dates inform the store how long to display the product for sale. These products can be safely consumed for days or even weeks after the sell-by date, provided they are handled properly.

“Freeze By”

This date is similar to a “Use By” date and indicates when a product should be used or frozen for peak quality.

“Packed On”

This is the date the food was packaged. It is generally not intended for consumers, but rather assists retailers in rotating stock and locating items in the event of a recall. They are not “Use By” dates.

What Are CAN Codes?

If you’ve ever looked closely, you’ll have noticed that canned goods have dates imprinted on them as well. Can codes are dates or a series of numbers stamped on canned items that enable manufacturers to track their products, especially in the event of a recall. 

Canned products are often good for 2-5 years or even longer. A shelf life test conducted on 100-year-old canned foods showed that while the food had lost its fresh smell and appearance, no microbial growth had occurred. The food was as safe to eat as when it was first canned those many years ago.

Wrapping Up - Label Expiration Dates

If you find all of this confusing, you are not alone. Some consumer advocacy groups are urging food producers to replace confusing labels with clear date markers.

Unfortunately, at this point, the lack of a clear labeling system leaves much to the consumer's discretion.  It’s helpful to understand best handling practices for both perishable and shelf-stable foods, and I’ve shared several resources to help you sort it out.

However, don’t forget to use the old-fashioned method of simply looking and smelling to determine if food is still safe to eat.  Of course, sometimes our senses can’t tell if a food has gone bad, so the old adage “When in doubt, throw it out” definitely applies here.

-Diane Javelli, RDCD is a Clinical Dietitian at the University of Washington Medical Center. For the past 20 years she has worked in the Outpatient Nutrition Clinic and specializes in gastrointestinal disorders as well as recovery from esophageal cancer surgery