Why Food Date Labels Cause So Much Confusion
_x000D_If you’ve ever thrown away milk, yogurt, or other groceries simply because the date on the package had passed, you’re not alone. Millions of people discard perfectly edible food every year after misunderstanding food date labels.
_x000D_Food safety experts say that, in most cases, these dates are designed to indicate product quality—not whether the food is still safe to eat.
_x000D_With the exception of infant formula, there are currently no federal regulations requiring standardized food date labels in the United States.
_x000D_ _x000D_What Food Date Labels Really Mean
_x000D_Many consumers assume every printed date is an expiration date, but that’s not true.
_x000D_Manufacturers commonly use labels such as:
_x000D_ _x000D_- _x000D_
- Best Before _x000D_
- Best By _x000D_
- Best If Used By _x000D_
- Enjoy By _x000D_
- Sell By _x000D_
Most of these labels simply indicate when the manufacturer believes the product will taste its best or maintain peak quality.
_x000D_According to food safety expert Donald Schaffner of Rutgers University, these labels are generally not indicators of food safety.
_x000D_ _x000D_Why Experts Say Good Food Gets Wasted
_x000D_Research from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that more than 80% of American consumers occasionally throw away food simply because it is approaching the printed date.
_x000D_Another study from the University of Maryland discovered that over 50 different food date labels are used across the United States, making it difficult for shoppers to know what they actually mean.
_x000D_Food scientist Rachel Zemser explains that manufacturers determine these dates based primarily on freshness, flavor and texture—not spoilage.
_x000D_ _x000D_Which Foods Usually Last Beyond Their Printed Date?
_x000D_Many packaged foods remain safe long after their quality date has passed.
_x000D_These include:
_x000D_ _x000D_- _x000D_
- Canned vegetables _x000D_
- Canned beans _x000D_
- Canned fruit _x000D_
- Shelf-stable soups _x000D_
- Almond milk _x000D_
- Soy milk _x000D_
- Dry cereal _x000D_
- Crackers _x000D_
- Cookies _x000D_
Because these foods contain little moisture or are sealed in airtight packaging, harmful bacteria are less likely to develop.
_x000D_While products like crackers may become stale over time, they generally do not become unsafe to eat.
_x000D_ _x000D_Foods That Require Extra Caution
_x000D_Fresh meat, poultry and seafood require much closer attention than shelf-stable foods.
_x000D_Experts recommend:
_x000D_ _x000D_- _x000D_
- Refrigerating meat properly _x000D_
- Freezing it before the quality date if it won’t be used soon _x000D_
- Looking for unpleasant odors, discoloration or slimy textures before cooking _x000D_
Unlike canned or dry foods, raw meat can spoil much faster due to moisture that encourages bacterial growth.
_x000D_ _x000D_California Introduces Simpler Food Labels
_x000D_California has become the first U.S. state to simplify food date labels.
_x000D_Under a law that took effect on July 1, manufacturers must now use only two standardized labels:
_x000D_ _x000D_- _x000D_
- Best If Used By — indicates product quality. _x000D_
- Use By — indicates product safety. _x000D_
The state also banned the use of “Sell By” labels for consumers since those dates are intended only for retailers managing store inventory.
_x000D_New York lawmakers have approved similar legislation, which now awaits the governor’s approval.
_x000D_ _x000D_Infant Formula Is the Only Federally Regulated Expiration Date
_x000D_Infant formula remains the only food product in the United States legally required to carry a federally regulated expiration date.
_x000D_Experts warn parents not to use formula after that date because its nutritional value gradually decreases over time, making it unsuitable as a baby’s primary source of nutrition.
_x000D_ _x000D_How to Tell If Food Has Actually Gone Bad
_x000D_Instead of relying only on printed dates, experts recommend using your senses.
_x000D_Look for:
_x000D_ _x000D_- _x000D_
- Mold _x000D_
- Bad odors _x000D_
- Unusual colors _x000D_
- Strange textures _x000D_
If food appears normal and has been stored properly, it may still be perfectly safe to eat even after the printed quality date has passed.
_x000D_Planning grocery purchases carefully and rotating older products to the front of your refrigerator or pantry can also help reduce unnecessary food waste.
