ArcaMax

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me about food expiration dates, I could afford to buy a lot of the milk that gets tossed each week just for being one day "past."

These questions come in by the dozen -- from readers, neighbors and once from a stranger in the dairy aisle holding a suspicious-looking yogurt cup like it was a ticking timebomb.

It's no wonder. Between the "sell by," "use by" and "best before" -- and "What the heck does this code mean?" -- food packaging labels have become their own dialect. Most of us are just trying to avoid food poisoning without wasting good money -- or a perfectly decent sleeve of saltines.

That brings me to Bob D., who wrote:

Dear Mary: Can you clarify expiration dates on food products? When it says "sell by 8/01/25," does that mean it has to be used or just sold by that date? Others show a date of, say, 2/01/26 on canned or packaged goods. Does that mean you need to use it by this date or what? Some canned or packaged products don't seem to have any date that I can find. Why is that? I'm so confused! -- Bob D.

Dear Bob: Short question, long answer. Here's a breakdown of what those dates really mean -- and when to toss or keep:

"SELL BY"

This date is mainly for stores. It helps with shelf rotation so newer stock ends up behind older stock. A "sell by" date doesn't mean the food becomes unsafe after that day. For example, milk is often good for five to seven days past its "sell by" if kept cold.

You can freeze milk, cheese or even bread just before the "sell by" and stretch your grocery dollar a little further.

"BEST BEFORE" AND "BEST IF USED BY"

These labels suggest when the food is at its best quality -- taste, texture and appearance -- not safety. That box of crackers or jar of peanut butter may taste a little stale afterward but is still perfectly safe to eat.

"USE BY" AND "EXPIRATION"

Now we're getting serious. These labels -- especially on dairy, deli meat and refrigerated dough -- mean the manufacturer can't guarantee safety after the printed date. Use your senses, but when in doubt, don't risk it. This is the only date that typically implies a safety concern, especially with perishable items.

Infant formula and baby food are the only products legally required to carry and adhere to expiration dates. Those should always be used exactly as labeled.

"GUARANTEED FRESH"

You'll see this on bakery goods. The donuts may still be edible after this date, but they may taste more like hockey pucks than baked treats. The label is about freshness, not safety.

"PACK DATE"

This is when the item was packaged, not when it should be eaten. On eggs and some canned goods, it might show up as a Julian date (001 for Jan. 1, 365 for Dec. 31). It's not meant for consumers, but it can help you guesstimate freshness.

If you stumble across an item with no visible date, don't panic. Not all foods are required to be labeled. Use your best judgment. If it smells weird, looks odd or feels slimy, toss it.

A WORD ABOUT WASTE

Here's the bigger issue: Americans throw away billions of pounds of food each year, often because of misunderstood date labels. That's not just sad -- it's expensive. The average family of four wastes over $1,800 annually in uneaten food. It's like buying groceries, driving them home and putting half directly in the trash.

A FEW SMART TIPS

-- Keep your fridge below 40 F and use airtight containers.

-- Use the "first in, first out" method to rotate pantry goods.

-- Freeze meat, cheese and bread near their "sell by" date.

-- Don't fear "best by." It's about quality, not safety.

Bob, you're not alone in the confusion. But with a little savvy, you can keep more of your groceries out of the trash -- and more of your dollars in your wallet.

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Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, "Ask Mary." This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book "Debt-Proof Living."

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