Food Expiration Dates: What they really mean explained by a Long Island Dietitian
Although we call them expiration dates, most don’t actually claim anything is expiring or unsafe. Instead, the labels say fresh until, display until, best when used by, better if used by, sell by, best by, enjoy by, best before, or—perhaps worst—provide a date with no explanation at all
Contrary to a common perception, “those dates are not about safety, that’s not why they’re there, that’s not what they’re doing” says Martin Wiedmann, a professor of food safety and food science at Cornell University. “For many foods, we could completely do away with it.”
When did foods start to have expiration dates?
Originally, the dates were developed as a coded system so the manufacturer could advise the retailer when to rotate products. This dating system became widespread, though never standardized. A Wall Street Journal article quotes Andrew Harig, the vice president at the Food Industry Association. He explains “It’s intended as a sort of consumer guide to be helpful. It’s just that it morphed into less of a guide and more of a rule, and that’s one of the challenges…Food technologists and food-safety people, they absolutely hate these labels.”
What does the FDA say about expiration dates?
You might think that food safety regulations keep us safe, yet in almost all cases, there is no regulation, and the dates do nothing to keep us safe. In fact, with the exception of infant formula, the labels aren’t federally mandated, and the food isn’t unsafe. Safety concerns usually arise from food that is contaminated or improperly stored. If you care about food safety, Wiedmann advises you to ignore “best by” dates and just set your refrigerator no higher than 37 degrees. Keeping food too warm is a real safety risk that has nothing to do with an expiration date.
What you need to know about “expiration dates” on food:
- The dates do not denote food safety.
- The dates are not federal law
- Best to be used by date is about taste, not safety – the product will be at its peak quality.
- Freeze-by date is the date suggested to be frozen by to maintain maximum quality.
- Sell-by dates and codes are used by management and manufacturers for inventory purposes.
Extra Safety Suggestions about Food:
- Cans should be discarded if rusted, swollen, or dented on the rim or seams.
- The best way to know if food is safe to eat is by checking the odor, flavor, and texture.
- Midwest Food Bank provides a solid checklist about expiration dates and what they mean. Try this resource.
For more resources on whether you should eat it or throw it out, check here:
- Midwest Food Bank, 10 Things to Know About Dates on Food
- USDA, Food Product Dating
- WebMD, Food Expiration Dates, What to Know
- WSJ, Here’s Something Past its Expiration Date, The Expiration Date Itself
