We’ve all done it—the date on a food package exceeds today’s date so we toss it! As a result, consumers are the biggest contributor to food waste; households toss an estimated 43% of our food supply annually for various reasons. A huge contributor to the waste is consumer misunderstanding of the dates found on food packaging. With the exception of infant formula, the dates found on food products ARE NOT expiration dates. Rather, they are BEST QUALITY dates.
Dates on packages can be a guide for consumers. The dates indicate the period in which a food manufacturer has determined a food product will maintain its best quality. However, the labels are not standardized, science-based, or regulated by a governmental agency. There are NO laws or federal regulations (infant formula, excepted) requiring product dating. Therefore, food manufacturers have total freedom to determine criteria for product quality and to create a date for their product. Ambiguous date labeling has significantly decreased food being fully utilized.
Manufacturers usually print two kinds of dates—open and closed—on food packaging. Opening dating is a calendar date usually followed by phrases such as “sell by,” “best by,” and “use by.” Closed dating is a code system, a series of letters and/or numbers, used by manufactures to track and identify the time, date, and location of production; closed dates use no specific date visible to consumers. While maintaining quality from production to consumer use is the intent of package dating, consumers have come to interpret the dates as “expired” and therefore, believe it to be unsafe and/or cause for a foodborne illness.
In an attempt to standardize labeling, the Food Date Labeling Act was introduced in both houses of Congress in May 2016. No action has been taken so far as the bill remains in committee in both houses. Until package dating is standardized, food waste can only be reduced by consumers’ understanding of what the dates mean for various products and how to inspect food before throwing it away.
How to Read Food Product Packaging Dates
Sell by: Many refrigerated items use “Sell by” dates. Retailers use the date to control their stock. Unless the product has spoiled, the product is still safe for consumers to consume after that date. Many refrigerated products are good for much longer than the sell-by date assuming they are properly stored/refrigerated. For instance, milk can be good for a week after the date; eggs remain fresh for 3 to 5 weeks after the date.
Best By, Best if Used By, Freshest By: This date indicates how long the manufacturer has determined the product will remain at optimal flavor and quality. Dry products, mixes, and canned foods use this designation. Most foods can be consumed safely after this date; however, the quality of the product may diminish over time. For example, products containing oils may gradually become rancid and those containing leavening agents may not rise as much after the date. In many cases, dates are conservative; if you eat food past that date, you may not notice any difference in quality, especially if the date has recently passed. Again, proper storage helps maintain quality.
As a means to reduce food loss and waste by consumers, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) recommended the phrase, “Best if Used By,” on food products in 2016. Research shows that this phrase helps consumers better understand the date as an indicator of quality, rather than safety.
Expires By or Expiration: This is the last day that a product should be consumed. Infant formula is the only food product that is regulated and bares a true expiration date. Expiration dates may also be found on medications, vitamins, leavening agents, and other products with a limited lifetime as specified by the manufacturer due to less or no functionality after the date.
Consumer Resources
Resources are available to help consumers with packaging dates. Here are a few to get familiar with:
Food Keeper App. The app is available for Android and Apple devices or at FoodSafety.gov for computer users. The Food Keeper helps consumers with food and beverage storage and maximizing the freshness and quality of items.
Still Tasty. The website, StillTasty.com, has comprehensive information about how long thousands of foods and beverages can be kept and used after packaging dates have passed.
Help Lines. There are numerous help lines available from universities, government agencies, health departments (check local listings), and private companies (check for product information on product or search product consumer support) to help consumers with food safety questions. Here’s three to know:
- USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854); 9am-3pm CT, Monday-Friday, in English or Spanish.
- FDA Food Safety Hotline at 1-888-SAFEFOOD (888-723-3366); 9am-3pm CT, Monday-Friday, except federal holidays. There are also more than 200 hours of recorded messages available 24/7.
- AnswerLine at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has specialists ready to answer calls and emails from Iowa and Minnesota residents, 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm, Monday-Friday at 1-800-262-3804 (IA) and 1-800-357-1678 (MN). Other land-grant universities may have similar help lines for consumers.
Lack of standardized package dating and consumer misunderstanding of packaging phrases and dates has led to increased food waste as well as calorie loss, financial loss, and a negative impact on the environment. Knowing what the phrases and dates mean can help consumers conserve loss. Next up, inspecting before tossing!
