Food labels like “Sell by” and “Best by” are often confused with expiration dates, causing many people to prematurely throw away food that is perfectly safe to consume.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that 30-40% of food goes to waste every year, largely due to consumers misunderstanding labels.
So, what do these different labels really mean?
“Best by” and “Best if used by” indicate when a product will reach peak quality and have the best flavor. This is not an expiration date, however, and the product can still be eaten after this date, even if it may no longer meet the company’s standard for freshness.
“Date labels usually indicate when food will be at its optimal freshness,” said Nina Sevilla, program advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council, which educates against food waste. “If you have food a couple of days past that date, it likely means it’s still okay to consume.”
“Sell by,” also not an expiration date, indicates how long the store should display the product for sale. A product being past its “Sell by” date does not mean the food has spoiled.
“Use by” is the last date recommended to use the product at peak quality. After the “Use by” date, the product’s quality may begin to decline, but it is still not expired — with one exception: baby formula.
Infant formula is the only food the FDA requires to have a “Use by” date. Formula should not be given to children past this date.
“Freeze by” indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. This also is not an expiration date.
But if none of these labels indicate expiration, how does one know when a food has spoiled?
Spoiled foods usually develop a rotten odor, texture, or flavor due to growing bacteria. Food experts recommend throwing away food at the first sign of spoilage, and even a mere speck of mold may indicate more bacteria that cannot be seen.
“It’s kind of like an iceberg. It’s only part of what’s going on,” said Leslie Bourquin, a Michigan State University professor of food science and safety.
The USDA has provided a chart to help consumers handle their food accordingly, which can be found here.
Being knowledgeable about nutrition is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Local dietitian Isabella Ferrari believes the lack of nutritional education significantly contributes to DFW’s worsening obesity problem.
“Not a lot of people get educated on what it means to be healthy,” she said in a previous interview with The Dallas Express.
