Date labels confuse a lot of people and lead to a lot of good food being thrown away.
What they usually mean
- Best if used by: when the product will be at its best quality
- Sell by: a date for the store, not for you
- Use by: the last date recommended for peak quality
- Except for infant formula, federal law doesn't require date labels on food
What to do
Use your senses and storage guidelines. Foods past a quality date can often still be eaten if stored properly, but throw out anything that's spoiled, and follow use-by dates on infant formula.
See USDA and FoodSafety.gov for current guidance. Smart Stash Daily isn't paid by any store, brand or delivery service.