A guide to food product expiration dates

A guide to food product expiration dates

You’re about to pour yourself a glass of orange juice when you happen to notice a date stamp that says “Best before” and the date listed is yesterday.

So should you pour or pass?

Here are five tips from a Business Week article that reveals useful information about food expiration dates.

“Sell by” is generally a guide for grocers (potentially confusing for shoppers who might regard it as an expiration date)

“Best if used by” or “best before” usually refers to optimum food flavor or quality – it’s not necessarily an indication that the food will be spoiled on or after that date

“Use by” is an expiration date – if the date has passed, pass on it

Milk products generally stay fresh for up to five days after their “sell by” date – provided they’ve been properly refrigerated

Eggs store very well – refrigerated eggs are usually good for more than a month after their “sell by” date

Source:
“The Truth About Food Expiration Dates” Pallavi Gogoi, Business Week, 10/1/07, businessweek.com