The date on the package is the most misread number in the store, and it costs money in both directions: food thrown out while still wholesome, and shoppers trusting a date that was never about safety.
There is no federal system behind those dates. The United States has no uniform or universally accepted wording for open dating on food labels, which is why so many different phrases appear. Federal regulations do not require date labels or standard language at all, with one exception covered below. The phrase is the manufacturer’s choice.
Four phrases, as USDA defines them
- “Best if Used By” or “Best if Used Before” indicates when a product will be at best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase date and not a safety date.
- “Sell By” tells the store how long to display the product. It is inventory management, not a safety date.
- “Use By” is the last date recommended for use at peak quality. It is not a safety date — except on infant formula.
- “Freeze By” indicates when to freeze to maintain peak quality. Not a purchase or safety date.
The one legal safety line
Federal regulation requires a “Use By” date on infant formula. Consuming it by that date ensures the formula still contains not less than the quantity of each nutrient stated on the label and will still pass through an ordinary bottle nipple.
Everything else is a quality claim. USDA’s own guidance for a date that expires during home storage: the product should be safe, wholesome, and of good quality if handled properly. The reverse is also true — mishandled food can become unsafe before its date.
The waste that confusion causes is measured
In 2019 the FDA said confusion over whether food is safe after a “sell by” or “use before” date accounts for about one-fifth of food waste in U.S. homes, and sent a letter to industry urging a single phrase.
Both agencies now push that phrase. FDA and USDA recommend that food companies voluntarily apply “Best if Used By,” which marks the date after which quality may decline while the product may still be consumed. In December 2024 the two agencies issued a joint request for information on date labeling, including its effect on food waste and grocery costs. Federal rules still do not prohibit “Sell By” or “Use By” if they are truthful.
The practical rule
Treat “Best if Used By,” “Best By,” “Sell By,” and “Use By” as quality notes on everything except infant formula. Then decide by the food, not the print — refrigerator time limits, smell, texture, and the storage rules in this collection.
Sources
- https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/food-product-dating
- https://www.fda.gov/news-events/news/press-announcements/usda-fda-seek-information-about-food-date-labeling-aim-provide-further-clarity-transparency-and-cost
- https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/05/23/726079350/to-reduce-food-waste-fda-urges-best-if-used-by-date-labels
- https://policyfinder.refed.org/spotlight-on-date-labeling/