Almost anything that you buy in the store is going to have an expiration date. Although we may see them regularly, there are often times will we don’t fully understand what is right in front of us.
We live in a world where food prices are a concern for people around the world. With the rising cost of food, we want to make sure that we get the most out of what we purchase.
One way that we can get more out of the food we buy is to pay close attention to the expiration dates printed on the boxes, cans, and other containers. If we can decode that properly, we may keep ourselves from purchasing food that would spoil before we are able to eat it.
First of all, if you are concerned about your understanding of food labels, you aren’t alone. A survey from 2007 showed that many people are confused about what they are seeing when they look at the label.
Fewer than half of the people who participated in the study could identify the ‘sell by’ date properly. About one in four misunderstood the date and thought that it was the last it could be consumed safely.
Perhaps this is due to the fact that there is ‘no federal regulation and no standard definition’ for food labels. This comes from Dana Gunders, who is at the forefront in trying to push the government to adopt more of a uniform policy for these dates.
More than likely, you are a little confused about the ‘Best Buy’, ‘used by’, and ‘sell by’ dates that are stamped on the containers. This is understandable because the truth of the situation can be all over the place.
According to a food safety attorney in Seattle: “Best-by and use-by dates are really designed for the look of the product and the palatability of the product.”
Consider the following list to use food labels more effectively.
If you are looking at a ‘best if used by/before’, it means that the product will be at the highest quality or flavor by that time. It doesn’t mean that you have to throw it away because it is unsafe to consume after the date expires.
For products that are labeled with a use-by date, that means it is ‘the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality.’ In other words, the food is likely highly perishable and you should not eat it after that date.
If there is a sell by date on the container, then it means that it should be out of the store by the time that date has expired. You have to decide how long after the date you will safely eat the food.
Does this mean that you should dispose of the food once the dates are expired? Absolutely not! Simply look at the food for any signs of spoilage and make your determination.
One exception to the rue is baby formula. If there is a use-by date of the package, you should not purchase it or use it after that date.
Many pantry items have a much longer shelf life than one stamped on the package. According to the USDA, foods such as canned tuna or vegetables will keep their best quality for up to five years.
Although there is a lot of confusion regarding these dates, you should always err on the side of caution. The last thing that you want as a bacterial infection and although it’s good to save some money, don’t do so at the expense of your health.
