Double-Check: Is It Really an Expiration Date?
Not every date printed on food packaging is an actual expiration date. According to food safety experts, here are the most common labels you’ll see—and what they really mean:
Sell-by date: The last day the store should display the product
Use-by date: The manufacturer’s estimate of peak quality
Best if used by date: Best flavor and texture, not safety
Closed or coded dates: Manufacturer tracking codes
These dates usually do not indicate food safety, and the FDA allows most foods to be sold past them (baby formula is the exception). Manufacturers are also not legally required to include date labels on most foods.
