Fast Facts for Decoding Food Dates

Did you know that 35% of all food processed in the United States in 2019 went unsold or uneaten? In many cases, the food was still edible! One contributing reason for food waste is the lack of a universal system for food “dating” in the U.S.  Consumers may find themselves confused by the dates they read on packaged foods—and in an abundance of caution—toss food in the trash (or compost), even when it may be perfectly good to eat. Let’s decode some food dates here:

“Sell by” dates mean that stores must remove these foods from the sales floor by this date. These foods are usually still good to eat if stored properly. If the food smells or tastes off, or if the seal has been broken, do not consume.

“Best if used by” dates mean that the food loses optimal quality after this date. It will likely be safe to eat, but it just might not taste as good. Again, if the food smells or tastes off, or if the seal has been broken, do not consume.

“Expiration” dates mean that the usefulness and quality of the product may be reduced after this date. It is best practice to not consume those food items.

“Packed on” dates refer to the day the food was packaged. This date is used to locate items in case of recall. These dates are used more for manufacturers than consumers.

Hopefully these tips help to demystify the dates on food packaging. And remember—if you confidently determine something is not safe to eat—consider composting it yourself or drop it off at a food scraps drop site near you and let WLSSD to the “dirty” work!  We let microbes feast on the community’s food waste, resulting in high-quality compost that returns nutrients and organic matter to the soil for improved plant growth!