Foods contain many different labels including labels that tell you whether or not the food is safe to eat. You also don’t want to waste food by throwing it away when you can still eat it. Understanding what each label means can help you decide if the food is still good to eat.
“Sell by”
This tells the store the last day that they should sell that food. You should buy the food before this date passes.
Vs.
“Best if used by”
This date does not tell you if the food is safe to eat. This date tells you when the food should have the best flavor or quality. If this date passes the food may still be safe to eat!
Vs.
“Use by”
This date is set by the manufacturer and tells you the last date when the food is at peak quality. You should use a food before this date passes.
Foods can still become contaminated before the “best if used by” and “use by” dates if they are not stored and handled correctly. Remember to wash your hands, cook foods to the right temperature, and refrigerate foods properly.
