Food Product Dating
"Sell by Feb 14" is a type of information you might find on a meat or poultry
product. Are dates required on food products? Does it mean the product will be
unsafe to use after that date? Here is some background information which answers
these and other questions about product dating.
What Is Dating?
"Open Dating" (use of a calendar date as opposed to a code) on a food product
is a date stamped on a product's package to help the store determine how long to
display the product for sale. It can also help the purchaser to know the time
limit to purchase or use the product at its best quality. It is not a safety
date. After the date passes, while not of best quality, the product should still
be safe if handled properly and kept at 40 °F or below for the recommended
storage times listed on the chart (see below). If product has a "use-by" date,
follow that date. If product has a "sell-by" date or no date, cook or freeze the
product by the times on the chart.
Is Dating Required by Federal Law?
Except for infant formula and some baby food (see below), product dating is
not generally required by Federal regulations. However, if a calendar date is
used, it must express both the month and day of the month (and the year, in the
case of shelf-stable and frozen products). If a calendar date is shown,
immediately adjacent to the date must be a phrase explaining the meaning of that
date such as "sell-by" or "use before."
There is no uniform or universally accepted system used for food dating in
the United States. Although dating of some foods is required by more than 20
states, there are areas of the country where much of the food supply has some
type of open date and other areas where almost no food is dated.
What Types of Food Are Dated?
Open dating is found primarily on perishable foods such as meat, poultry,
eggs and dairy products. "Closed" or "coded" dating might appear on shelf-stable
products such as cans and boxes of food.
Types of Dates
- A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale.
You should buy the product before the date expires.
- A "Best if Used By (or
Before)" date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or
safety date.
- A "Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the
product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer
of the product.
- "Closed or coded dates" are packing numbers for use by the
manufacturer.
Safety After Date Expires
Except for "use-by" dates, product dates don't always refer to home storage
and use after purchase. "Use-by" dates usually refer to best quality and are not
safety dates. But even if the date expires during home storage, a product should
be safe, wholesome and of good quality -- if handled properly and kept at 40° F
or below. See the accompanying refrigerator charts for storage times of dated
products. If product has a "use-by" date, follow that date. If product has a
"sell-by" date or no date, cook or freeze the product by the times on the chart.
Foods can develop an off odor, flavor or appearance due to spoilage bacteria.
If a food has developed such characteristics, you should not use it for quality
reasons.
If foods are mishandled, however, foodborne bacteria can grow and cause
foodborne illness -- before or after the date on the package. For example, if
hot dogs are taken to a picnic and left out several hours, they wouldn't be safe
if used thereafter, even if the date hasn't expired.
Other examples of potential mishandling are products that have been:
defrosted at room temperature more than two hours; cross contaminated; or
handled by people who don't use proper sanitary practices. Make sure to follow
the handling and preparation instructions on the label to ensure top quality and
safety.
Dating Formula & Baby Food
Federal regulations require a "use-by" date on the product label of infant
formula and the varieties of baby food under FDA inspection. If consumed by that
date, the formula or food must contain not less than the quantity of each
nutrient as described on the label. Formula must maintain an acceptable quality
to pass through an ordinary bottle nipple. If stored too long, formula can
separate and clog the nipple.
Dating of baby food is for quality as well as for nutrient retention. Just as
you might not want to eat stale potato chips, you wouldn't want to feed your
baby meat or other foods that have an off flavor or texture.
The "use-by" date is selected by the manufacturer, packer or distributor of
the product on the basis of product analysis throughout its shelf life; tests;
or other information. It is also based on the conditions of handling, storage,
preparation and use printed on the label. Do not buy or use baby formula or baby
food after its "use-by" date.
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