MINNEAPOLIS — Every year, about a third of all food in the United States goes to waste. A healthy portion of that is due to confusion about labeling dates.
Contrary to popular belief, the “best if used by” or “best before” date is not an expiration date. It is just when a product will have the best flavor or quality.
The “sell by” date lets the store know how long a product should be on the shelves.
The “freeze by” date is the last day recommended by the manufacturer to freeze the product to maintain peak quality.
The “use by” date is the last date recommended for you to use the product at peak quality.
“In most cases, the dates are not important for safety for consumers,” Katerine Simon, Food and Feed Safety Division Director for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, said.
Simon says most products can be consumed after their use-by date but there are exceptions, like infant formula.
“The main reason why is that it’s the sole nutrient source for those infants and making sure they have all their nutrient needs met while they’re growing is highly important,” Simon said.