Most expiration dates aren’t about safety — they’re about quality. Labels like “sell by” and “best before” usually mark when food is at its freshest, not when it suddenly becomes unsafe. Because of this confusion, Americans throw away billions of pounds of perfectly good food every year.
There’s no single national rule. Each state sets its own policies, and food companies use different methods to decide dates. That’s why two similar products can have very different labels. The only food with federally regulated dates is infant formula.
Health experts say the biggest risks come from raw meat, seafood, unpasteurized dairy, and baby food. For most other items, storage and your senses — how it looks, smells, and tastes — are more reliable guides. Until labeling is standardized, common sense can help cut waste and keep you safe.
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