Expiry dates mean different things and give an indication as to when to use products or if they are safe after the printed date.
Manufacturers determine dating on products to assist the stores and consumers in determining freshness. The dates on product labels can be confusing but here is what you really need to know.
- Expiration date
According to www.livestrong.com, the only place you are likely to encounter this type of date is on infant formula and some baby foods. You should always use the product before this date has passed. The actual term expiration date refers to the last date a food should be eaten or used. Last means last – proceed at your own risk.
- Best if used by (or before) date
This refers strictly to quality, not safety. This date is recommended for best flavour or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date. Sour cream, for instance, is already sour, but can have a zippier, fresh taste when freshly sour.
- Guaranteed fresh date
This usually refers to bakery items. They will still be edible after the date, but will not be at peak freshness.
- Sell-by date
The sell-by date is primarily to tell a grocer how long to offer the product for sale. Consumers should purchase food from the store before it reaches this date for the best quality. Food sold after this date can start to decline after this date. This dating also gives consumers some time to consume the product after it has been purchased. Dairy and eggs usually have a sell-by date, but most milk should last for five to seven days past the sell-by date.
- Use-by date
The use-by date, determined by the manufacturer, specifies what date by which to consume the product. Most products are safe to eat after this date, but the date is determined as a way to guarantee quality. After the use-by date, some foods might lose freshness, flavour and texture. Most baked foods and snack foods have a use-by date. These types of foods typically contain preservatives so they are unlikely to spoil for months or even years.
Note
- The date, which is provided voluntarily by the manufacturer, tells you how long the product is likely to remain at its absolute best quality when unopened. According to Eatbydate.com, when properly stored, the shelf life of an unopened canned beer past its best before date is approximately six to nine months. If it's kept in a fridge, it's two years, the same applied to bottled beer.
- After the "use by" or "best" date has passed, you may start to notice gradual changes in the unopened product's texture, colour, or flavour. Nevertheless, as long as you have been storing the unopened item properly, you can generally consume it beyond this date.
-Your best bet for gauging whether an unopened shelf-stable product with this type of date is still of satisfactory quality is to simply smell and examine it first. Always discard foods that have developed an off odour, flavour or appearance.
You should buy the product before the sell-by date expires. However, you can still store it at home for some time beyond that date, as long as you follow safe storage procedures. For instance, milk that has been continuously refrigerated will usually remain drinkable for about one week after the sell-by date on the package. For car owners, do you know that tires expire four years after the date of manufacture and that this date is stamped on the side of the tire? It is very easy to find out what expiration date is on a tire, if you check on the side of it, you will have a four digit number stamped on it. This number indicates the week and the year it was manufactured; the expiration date will be four years later.
