Understanding ‘Best By’ Dates on Food Packaging.


Understanding ‘Best By’ Dates on Food Packaging (U.S. Context).



Consumers often see labels like “Best By,” “Sell By,” or “Use By” on food products and wonder what they really mean. Misinterpreting these dates can lead to perfectly good food being thrown away. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll clarify what a “Best By” date signifies (and what it doesn’t) according to U.S. regulators, how it differs from other date labels, whether it’s about food safety or quality, and how long foods remain usable past that date. We’ll also provide a friendly, reassuring statement for customers of a gourmet and tabletop store (lello.store) about “Best By” dates on specialty foods.



What 

“Best By”

 Means (and Doesn’t Mean) in the U.S.



In the United States, date labeling on foods (except for infant formula) is not strictly regulated by federal law – it’s largely a voluntary practice by manufacturers . The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) do not require food packages (besides baby formula) to have expiration or “Best By” dates. When manufacturers do put a date, they must ensure it’s truthful and not misleading . Importantly, “Best By” is not an exact safety cutoff. According to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), a “Best if Used By” (or “Best By”) date indicates when a product will be at its best flavor or quality – it is not a safety or expiration date . In fact, FDA and USDA encourage companies to use the “Best if Used By” phrasing to communicate that the date is about quality, after which the product may decline in taste/texture but is still safe to consume .


Legal status: Other than infant formula, no federal law mandates date labels. Infant formula is the one exception – it must carry a “Use-By” date because after that date the formula might not meet nutritional requirements and could have decreased quality (formula should not be used past its “Use-By” date) . For all other foods, “Best By” dates are not about safety and do not mean the food must be thrown out after that day . The FDA and USDA recognize that many foods are still wholesome and safe beyond the date as long as they’ve been stored and handled properly . The key point is that “Best By” is a quality guideline, not a hard expiration rule. Manufacturers choose these dates based on when they estimate the product will start to lose optimum quality (flavor, texture, aroma), often through testing under normal storage conditions .



“Best By” vs. “Sell By” vs. “Use By” vs. “Expiration” Dates



Many terms sound similar but have different meanings. Here’s a breakdown of common date labels and how they differ:


  • “Best if Used By/Before” (Best By): This indicates the date when a product is at peak flavor or quality. It is not a safety deadline or a mandate to discard; rather, it suggests when you’ll get the best taste or texture. After this date, the food is generally still safe to eat if it shows no spoilage, but quality may gradually decline . (FDA and USDA endorse this term for quality indications .)
  • “Sell By”: This date is aimed at retailers, not consumers. It tells the store how long to keep the product on shelves for inventory management. For example, a “Sell By” date might ensure you buy a product with sufficient remaining shelf life. It is not a safety date for consumers . Foods are often still good for days or weeks past the “Sell By” date if properly stored.
  • “Use By”: This is the last date recommended for peak quality of the product. After the “Use By” date, the flavor or quality might not be at its best. It is not a safety date for foods (except infant formula) . Manufacturers may use “Use By” on perishables (like deli meats or prepared foods) to indicate when the product will start declining faster in quality. Infant formula is the one case where “Use By” is a safety-related date required by law .
  • “Expiration Date”/ “Expires on”: This term is not generally used on U.S. food except possibly on certain supplements or specialty products. In everyday language, people refer to any date label as an “expiration date,” but in reality most food dates aren’t about expiration in the sense of safety. An actual “Expiration” implies do not consume after this date. Outside of baby formula (and some pharmaceuticals or foods for immune-compromised individuals), you will rarely see a true expiration date on food. If you do see “Expires on” it’s wise to follow it for safety, but these are uncommon on foods. (Some states or companies might use “Expires” for products like pasteurized juice or meal kits where safety could be a factor, but it’s not standardized.)



In summary: “Best By” = quality peak, “Sell By” = stocking guide, “Use By” = peak quality deadline (except baby formula), and “Expiration” = do not use after (mostly not used for foods in general) . With the exception of infant formula, none of these dates are federally regulated for safety, and passing a date usually doesn’t mean food has spoiled .


Examples of date labels on products: the can on the left shows a “Best if Used By” date (quality recommendation), while the item on the right has only a coded date with no phrase. Many packaged foods include a clear phrase like “Best By” or “Use By” to help consumers understand the date’s meaning.



Quality vs. Safety: 

“Best By” = Quality Assurance, Not Food Safety



The “Best By” date is about food quality, not food safety. This is a crucial distinction. The FDA, USDA, and food industry groups have emphasized that these dates generally do not indicate that a food will spoil or be unsafe after that day . Instead, the “Best By” date suggests when the product will begin to lose some of its optimal taste or texture.


After the date passes, the food can still be perfectly safe to eat – it doesn’t automatically go bad. For example, a bag of gourmet crackers might be labeled “Best By June 2025” to ensure peak crunchiness and flavor. If you open it in July 2025, the crackers are still safe; at worst, they might be slightly less crisp or flavorful than they were at their peak. According to the USDA, many shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely as long as they’re stored properly – you’ll typically notice quality changes (staleness, off-flavors) before the food becomes truly inedible . Spoilage bacteria, not time alone, make food go bad. So trust your senses: if the food looks, smells, and tastes normal, and was stored correctly, it’s likely fine even if it’s past the “Best By” date . On the other hand, if you see signs of spoilage (mold, bad odor, leaking/bulging packaging, etc.) you should discard the product, regardless of what the date is.


Regulators’ stance: The USDA FSIS explicitly states that for foods (except infant formula), if the date passes during home storage, the product should still be safe and wholesome if handled properly until spoilage is evident . The “Best if Used By” label is meant to signal quality, and the FDA/USDA have promoted consumer education on this point because confusion over date labels contributes to food waste. It’s estimated that about 20% of food waste in U.S. homes is due to misunderstanding date labels, with consumers mistakenly throwing out good food because they think the date is a safety deadline . By understanding that “Best By” is about best quality, consumers can make informed decisions and reduce unnecessary waste .



Products That Typically Use 

“Best By”

 Dates (Especially Gourmet & Shelf-Stable Goods)



You’ll most often find “Best By” dates on shelf-stable and packaged goods, including many gourmet items. These are products that aren’t expected to spoil immediately but whose freshness or flavor profile is best within a certain timeframe. Examples include:


  • Canned goods (soups, vegetables, fruits, sauces): usually have a “Best By” several years out. Cans often remain safe for years beyond the date if unopened and undamaged .
  • Dry goods like pasta, rice, cereal, crackers, baking mixes, and cookies: carry “Best By” dates for optimal freshness. They are generally safe well past the date; over time they might become stale or lose some flavor .
  • Bottled and jarred foods: e.g. gourmet jams, honey, sauces, olive oils, spices, condiments. These often use “Best By” to indicate when flavor is prime. Many such items (honey, vinegar, unopened sauces) can last far beyond the date with minimal quality change (honey is virtually non-perishable). Spices and oils might lose potency or aroma after the date but are still safe to use (spices just become less intense).
  • Beverages (juices, bottled water, soft drinks, wine): may have “Best By” dates. Interestingly, bottled water often has a “Best By” even though, if stored properly, water doesn’t spoil – it can be kept indefinitely without safety issues . The date is mainly for best taste (water may acquire a slight plastic taste over very long storage) .
  • Snack foods and sweets: chips, chocolate, candies, nuts, etc. “Best By” is common here to signal peak freshness (nuts, for instance, can go rancid eventually due to oils, but if kept airtight they’re fine for a while past the date).



Meanwhile, highly perishable foods often use different labels:


  • Meat, poultry, fish (raw or fresh) and dairy products (milk, yogurt): these might use a “Sell By” or sometimes a “Use By” date. For example, milk jugs often have “Sell By” dates; milk is usually still good for about 5-7 days after the Sell By if refrigerated properly (you would rely on smell/taste to judge).
  • Prepared foods, deli items, bagged salads: often have “Use By” dates, indicating when the product is at peak quality and when it should be consumed or frozen by that day. They’re often still okay a short time after, but quality drops faster and there could be slight safety risk if kept too long, so it’s wiser to heed “Use By” on something like fresh ready-to-eat deli meat or salad.
  • Eggs: U.S. egg cartons might have either a “Sell By” or a “Best By” (and always a pack date in code if USDA-graded). Eggs can actually remain safe 3–5 weeks beyond the date if kept refrigerated at or below 40°F . So even if your egg carton says Best by May 1, you can likely use them through most of May; just do the float test or sniff if in doubt.



Gourmet and specialty foods (the kind sold at a store like Lello) are often shelf-stable delights – think artisanal pickles, truffle oils, small-batch hot sauces, imported pastas, etc. These typically have “Best By” dates to assure peak flavor. Rest assured, if you find an intriguing gourmet sauce in our store that is near its “Best By” date or even just past, it’s very likely still excellent and safe to enjoy, with perhaps only subtle changes in flavor intensity. Manufacturers of these products tend to be conservative with their dates to ensure customer satisfaction. Many gourmet pantry items are designed to last; they often contain natural preservatives (like sugar, salt, vinegar, or drying of ingredients) that keep them stable well beyond the printed date.



How Long After the 

“Best By”

 Date Are Foods Still Usable or Safe?



There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but many foods remain perfectly fine for weeks, months, or even years past their “Best By” date. Here are some general guidelines and examples (assuming proper storage in a cool, dry place for pantry items, and unopened packages):


  • Canned foods (vegetables, beans, meats): Often safe 3-5 years past the date, or even longer . The quality might slowly diminish (color or texture changes), but the food is safe as long as the can is intact (no rust, dents, or swelling) .
  • Low-acid canned foods (e.g., canned meat, soups) last closer to the 5-year mark; high-acid canned foods (tomato products, fruits) are best within 1-2 years of the date but can still be consumed beyond that .
  • Dry grains and pasta: White rice can last at least 2 years on the shelf unopened . Dry pasta, flour, and other grains often remain safe for a couple of years; you might notice quality changes (slight stale taste or dryness) after 1–2 years.
  • Breakfast cereal, cookies, crackers: These are typically marked with dates about 6–12 months out. They are safe well past those dates. Over time, they may taste stale or lose crunch. If they haven’t gone rancid (check for any unusual smell due to oils), you can often freshen them by toasting in the oven if needed. As USDA says, they’ll be safe after the “best by” date but could eventually go stale – you’ll know by the taste/texture .
  • Beverages: Unopened juice or soda might slightly lose flavor fizz after the date but are generally fine for months beyond. Bottled water is safe indefinitely; the “best by” on water is for best taste, not safety .
  • Condiments & jarred foods: Many, like ketchup, mustard, pickles, jams, have best-by dates 1-2 years out. Unopened, they can be used well beyond that (often another 1-2 years safely). The quality (flavor potency or color) might decrease. Once opened, of course, their shelf life is shorter (refrigerate after opening and use within a few weeks to months depending on the item).
  • Snacks and nuts: These often remain good for a few months beyond the date. The biggest issue is nuts can slowly oxidize (go rancid) after the date, especially once opened. If they smell stale or “soapy,” the oils have gone off – toss those. Otherwise, it’s fine.
  • Frozen foods: Frozen dinners or veggies sometimes have a “Best By.” If kept frozen solid, they’re safe indefinitely. The date is for quality; beyond it, texture or flavor might slowly degrade (freezer burn might set in), but safety isn’t a concern as long as they stayed frozen (freezing keeps food safe forever, technically).



Always remember: if in doubt, check it out – look at the food, smell it, maybe taste a small amount. Spoiled foods usually make themselves known (off-odor, mold, strange texture). If none of those are present, the food is likely okay. The USDA advises that with the exception of infant formula, even if the date has passed, the product should still be safe if it was stored properly, up until you can detect spoilage .


Also, tools like the FoodKeeper App (from USDA/FDA) can guide how long specific items stay good and how to store them . But as a rule, “Best By” is about best quality, not a magic expiration day. Many foods can be enjoyed far past that date, helping reduce waste and getting the most value from your groceries .





What Does a “Best By” Date Really Mean?



At Lello Gourmet & Tabletop, we take pride in offering high-quality gourmet foods and ingredients. You might notice that some of our products have a “Best By” date printed on the package. We want to reassure you about what this date means:


“Best By” is not an expiration date – it’s a best flavor/freshness date. In other words, the manufacturer recommends enjoying the product by that day for peak taste or texture. However, it doesn’t mean the food automatically goes bad after that date! In fact, many of our shelf-stable gourmet items (sauces, spices, jams, etc.) remain perfectly good and safe to consume well past the “Best By” date, especially if unopened. The quality might slowly change – for example, a spice might be slightly less potent or a cracker a bit less crisp – but often you’d never even notice a difference.


Why do we have “Best By” dates? It’s mainly about quality assurance. Producers want you to experience their product at its very best. Think of it as a recommendation for when the product is “optimal.” It is not a deadline after which the food is unsafe. According to food safety experts, these dates are about quality, not safety . We encourage you to use your own good judgment with any food: if it looks, smells, and tastes normal, it should be fine. (For example, that artisanal pasta sauce you bought from us might still be delightful in the weeks or months after its “Best By” date, especially if it’s been stored properly in your pantry.)


Rest assured, we at Lello would never sell you a product that isn’t safe. We manage our inventory so that you get products in great condition. And if an item is near or just past its “Best By” date, we’ll often let you know – not to alarm you, but to emphasize that it’s still a great product! In fact, we stand by the quality of such items and often offer them at a discount so you can save money and help reduce food waste. It’s a win-win: you get a delicious gourmet treat, and together we prevent good food from being thrown away needlessly.


Bottom line: a “Best By” date means best quality by that time. Many items (like the ones we carry) remain tasty and safe well after that date. We want you to feel confident and informed when shopping with us. If you ever have questions about a date on a package, please ask us! We’re happy to explain or check on any product for you. Your trust means everything to us, and we hope this explanation helps you enjoy our gourmet offerings with peace of mind. Bon appétit!




Sources:


  • U.S. FDA News Release – Joint USDA/FDA Request for Information on Food Date Labeling (Dec 2024) – confirms “Best if Used By” is a quality-based date after which the product may still be consumed and notes consumer confusion over “Sell By/Use By/Best By” contributes to food waste .
  • USDA FSIS – Guidance on Food Product Dating – explains that except for infant formula, date labels indicate quality, not safety, and defines “Best if Used By” as the date for best flavor/quality (not a safety date) . Also clarifies that foods are typically safe to eat after the date if no spoilage is evident .
  • USDA Blog (Marianne Gravely, Before You Toss Food, Wait. Check It Out!, 2013) – emphasizes that shelf-stable foods remain safe past the “best by” date (canned goods last years; packaged foods like cereal, pasta are safe beyond the date though eventually stale) . Freezing keeps food safe indefinitely .
  • U.S. PIRG Consumer Guide (“Best by vs. Use by”, updated Dec 2024) – notes efforts to standardize date labels (“BEST BY” for quality, “USE BY” for safety in limited cases) and gives examples (bottled water can be kept indefinitely, rice ~2 years, canned goods 3–5 years past date) . Also cites FSIS definitions of each term (Best if Used By = best quality, not safety; Sell By = inventory, not safety; Use By = last recommended for peak quality, not safety except infant formula) .
  • FDA Consumer Info (How to Cut Food Waste and Maintain Food Safety) – reiterates no federal requirement for date labels (except formula) and supports “Best if Used By” to mean best quality date . Advises examining food past the date for spoilage rather than assuming it’s bad.
  • Gilmer County Health Dept. (WV) – What Do the Dates on Food Products Mean? – a summary of USDA FSIS info, confirming that “Best By” and similar dates are about quality, not mandated for safety, and that food properly stored is generally safe past the date until spoilage occurs .