A grocery package’s “best if used by” date is usually a guide to quality, not a deadline that automatically makes the food unsafe. But that does not mean everything past its printed date belongs on the dinner table.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food-dating guidance separates the date on the label from the way a product has been handled. Temperature, storage and preparation still matter, even when the date has not passed. Infant formula has a separate rule: do not buy or use it after its “use by” date.
The distinction matters when deciding whether to discard groceries. USDA says confusion about package dates can lead households to throw away wholesome food. The date alone, however, cannot establish that a particular item is safe.
“Best if Used By” or “Best Before” describes when the manufacturer expects the best flavor or quality. “Sell By” tells the store how long to display a product for inventory management. Neither is a safety date, USDA says.
A “Freeze By” date recommends when to freeze the food to preserve peak quality. A “Use By” date generally describes the last recommended date for peak quality, with the important exception of infant formula. These phrases should not be treated as interchangeable instructions to throw food away.
Storage instructions are a different matter. The Food and Drug Administration’s food-storage guidance says to keep a refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and a freezer at 0 degrees. Foods that require refrigeration should not sit at room temperature for more than two hours, or one hour when the air temperature is above 90 degrees.
That is why a date still in the future is not a guarantee. A product mishandled on the way home or left unrefrigerated can be unsafe before its printed date. Follow the package’s handling, storage and preparation directions.
The opposite mistake is relying entirely on smell. FDA warns that food can cause illness even when it does not look, smell or taste spoiled. Pathogenic bacteria that cause illness are different from the organisms that make food noticeably deteriorate. Food that looks or smells suspicious should be discarded, but the absence of those signs does not prove safety.
Infant formula’s date deserves particular attention. In its formula safety guidance, FDA says the manufacturer guarantees nutrient content and quality through the “use by” date. Formula should not be fed to an infant after that date. Its instructions for handling before and after opening, and for storing or discarding prepared formula, also apply.
USDA’s date-label guidance is not a substitute for product-specific storage limits or a reason to keep questionable food. FDA’s advice when food is questionable is to throw it out.
JBizNews Desk | Washington
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