‘Sell By’ & ‘Use By’ Dates On Food, What Do They Mean?

‘Sell By’ & ‘Use By’ Dates On Food, What Do They Mean?

At least 90% of Americans throw away food each year because they do not understand the meaning of package dates.

Below are the safe explanations of the meaning of those food warnings, as follows:

If you are one of the millions of American consumers tossing hundreds of dollars in the trash each year, this information will help your food budget.

And if you do not understand the “Sell By,” “Use By” and “Best Before” labels stamped on groceries, the explanations are very simple.

Recently a report by the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic and the Natural Resources Defense Council found that the vast majority of Americans misinterpret food labels and throw away good food.

So, by understanding some simple terms, consumers can save money, rather than deposit it with the trash.

‘Sell By’ Date

When consumers throw away food based on the “Sell By” date they are making a mistake. And the study found that more than 90% of consumers make that mistake. Further that keeping food past that date does not mean it’s unsafe.

The “Sell By” date is used by manufacturers to let grocery stores know they should not sell food past that date simply to ensure it still has some shelf life remaining after a consumer purchases it, according to the report.

“Best Before” and “Use By” dates do not mean you should throw that food away. The labels typically indicate the manufacturer’s estimate of when the food will be past its peak for quality. But that does not mean the food is unsafe, the report says.

There is no standard that establishes those dates.

Laws vary by state, and manufacturers have their own rules for setting dates. Neither the US Food and Drug Administration nor the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has stepped in to address the confusion.

Infant formula is the only product for which the date on the label is federally regulated.

Given the confusion over dates, the majority of consumers wonder how long they can safely keep food without jeopardizing their family’s health, or their own wallet.

The federal government gives us good starting points.

At FoodSafety.gov  find recommended refrigerator and freezer storage times for various meat products.

Most meats can be safely stored in the refrigerator for a few days and in the freezer for a few months. But the site points out that freezer storage guidelines are only for quality, and that foods can stay safely frozen indefinitely.

You will find more in-depth information on food safety and the limits of labeling on the USDA’sFood Safety and Inspection Service website.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/food-product-dating/food-product-dating

Those eggs you bought last week can be safely refrigerated for 3 to 5 weeks. That shelf-stable canned meat and poultry will be good after 2 to 5 years.

The Whole Foods Market website has helpful information on storing dairy products and cheese. Storage times vary so take that data into consideration when deciding what to buy. Opened butter, for example, will last 1 to 2 weeks, while opened margarine will last 4 to 6 months.

On the Spice Islands site, you will find information on the shelf life of spices and herbs. Buying whole spices rather than ground spices is a better choice because they last longer.

Consumers can find safety and storage recommendations for nearly every food product made at www.StillTasty.com.

Every wonder how long raw shrimp keeps in the refrigerator or freezer, or whether that unopened package of spaghetti in the back of the pantry is still good? The answers are just a click away.

Eat healthy, Be healthy, Live lively.

HeffX-LTN

Paul Ebeling

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