Food Labeling Decoded

written by: Jackie Rivas

When you buy dairy, poultry or meat products, you will see a date on the label and next to the date you will see terms such as use-by, best-by or sell-by. Have you ever wondered what they actually mean? Is the product inedible or toxic after the date? Should you throw it out? Are you confused? Did you know that, except for infant formula, there are no Federal regulations that require a date on the food label?

Open and Closed Dating

There are two types of dating labels: open dating and closed dating.

Open Dating

In open dating, the manufacturer or retailer applies a calendar date to the product. It is found on labels for perishable items such as meat, poultry, eggs and dairy. The date provides consumers with an estimate of how long the product will be at peak freshness and also lets the merchant know how long the product should remain on the shelf. It’s important to note that the food itself will remain edible after the date.

Closed Dating

Closed dating is a code that manufacturers apply to longer-lasting products such as cans and packaged foods. Closed dating identifies when it was produced and allows for tracking in case of a recall. 

Food Labels Deciphered

• Best if used by or before date: Indicates when the product will be at peak flavor. It doesn’t mean that the product is harmful or inedible after that date.
• Sell by date: This is used for inventory management by the store. It does not reflect on the freshness of the product.
• Use by date: This is an indicator of peak quality and does not mean that the product is unusable after that date.
• Freeze by date: Indicates that the quality of the product will be preserved by freezing by this date.

Beyond Food Labels

If food label dates don’t indicate if a product is still good to eat, how else can you judge if food is still edible?

Maintaining food at the proper temperature is very important.

Perishable items such as meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy should be stored at below 40 degrees F. Food left in a hot car might be unsafe regardless of the date on the label. And food left too long on the countertop might become too dangerous to consume.

Food Senses

You can use your senses to tell if something is still good to eat.

• Smell: If something smells bad, it should not be eaten. Odors are caused by spoilage bacteria. Dairy products past their prime will frequently have a sour smell.
• Sight: Spoiled food may fade or darken in color. Spots or blemishes are possible. Spoiled meats may be slimy, fuzzy or sticky. Cheese may develop green and white mold or pink slime. A visible separation of oil and liquid may create an opportunity for bacteria to grow.

Canned Goods

Canned goods have a closed dating code that enables tracking of the product. The code might refer to the date or time of production, but does not indicate the freshness of the product. Canned goods must also be stored properly. Temperatures above 100 degrees F might harm the product. Toss bulging, heavily dented, rusted or leaking cans.

Food labels provide information on peak freshness or peak quality of a food product, but do not mean that the product is harmful or inedible after that date. You can judge whether an item is still good by its appearance and smell. If it smells bad, it probably is bad. Take care in handling your grocery purchases. Don’t leave your shopping bags in a hot car or leave perishable items on your countertop. Handle your food properly to eat well and save money.

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EcoAction Arlington’s Food Waste Reduction Campaign 2024 is curated by the Advocacy committee and the R4 Action Group.This content also appeared in EcoAction Arlington’s monthly newsletter and The EcoAdvocate newsletter produced by the EcoAction Arlington Advocacy Committee.