Expiration Date Guide: What Best By, Sell By, and Use By Actually Mean
Learn what best by, sell by, use by, and expires on dates actually mean. Most food is safe past these dates. FDA guidelines, how to tell if food is really bad, and a table of 20 common foods with how long they really last.
The quick answer: Most date labels on food are about quality, not safety. "Best by" means peak flavor — the food is still safe after this date. "Sell by" is for retailers, not consumers. "Use by" is the most conservative and the only one that suggests a hard deadline. The only legally required date in the US is on infant formula. Most pantry staples last months to years past their printed dates, and many refrigerated items are safe for days to weeks beyond them.
What Each Date Label Means
There are four common date labels on food packaging, and most consumers misunderstand all of them. According to the USDA, confusion over date labels is a leading cause of food waste — an estimated 20% of consumer food waste is caused by discarding food that is still safe to eat because of misinterpreted dates.
| Label | What It Means | Who It Is For | Food Safe After? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best By / Best Before | Peak quality date — flavor, texture, and nutritional value are optimal | Consumer | Yes, often weeks to months |
| Sell By | Last date the store should display the product for sale | Retailer | Yes, typically 3-7 days (fridge items) |
| Use By | Last date recommended for peak quality. Most conservative label | Consumer | Often yes, but evaluate carefully |
| Expires On / Expiration Date | Hard deadline — typically on medicine, infant formula, and some dairy | Consumer | Not recommended for infant formula. Evaluate individually for other foods |
Best By / Best Before
This is the most common date on packaged food and the most misunderstood. It means the manufacturer guarantees optimal flavor and texture up to this date. It says nothing about safety. A can of beans with a "best by" date of January 2026 is almost certainly safe to eat in June 2026 — it just may have slightly diminished flavor.
Sell By
This date is for the grocery store, not for you. It tells the store when to pull the product from shelves. Milk with a "sell by" date of March 20 is typically good for 5-7 days after that date when stored properly in the fridge. Many stores discount items approaching their sell-by date — these are excellent buys for budget-conscious shoppers.
Use By
The most conservative label. It represents the last date the manufacturer recommends for peak quality. While food is often safe beyond this date, this is the label to take most seriously — especially for perishable items like deli meats, soft cheeses, and ready-to-eat meals.
Expires On / Expiration Date
The strictest label, but even this is not always a hard safety cutoff. The exception is infant formula — this is the only product where expiration dates are federally regulated and required by law. For all other foods, "expires on" is still a quality indicator, though it should be taken more seriously than "best by."
Which Dates Are Legally Required?
In the United States, only infant formula is required by federal law to carry a date label. All other date labels are voluntary — manufacturers add them as quality guidance, not as safety warnings.
Some states have their own date labeling requirements for specific products (notably dairy and eggs), but these vary by state and are still primarily about quality, not safety.
This surprises most people. The can of soup in your pantry, the frozen chicken in your freezer, the bag of chips in your cabinet — none of their dates are federally mandated, and none of them indicate a point at which the food becomes unsafe.
How to Tell If Food Is Actually Bad
Instead of relying solely on date labels, use your senses. Humans evolved to detect spoiled food — your nose, eyes, and hands are good at this.
Sight
| Sign | What It Indicates | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Mold (fuzzy spots, any color) | Fungal growth | Discard. Do not cut off mold and eat the rest (mold roots extend deeper than visible) — except for hard cheeses where you can cut 1 inch around the mold |
| Discoloration (green, gray, or black spots on meat) | Bacterial activity or oxidation | Discard if accompanied by smell changes |
| Slimy coating (on deli meat, chicken, or produce) | Bacterial biofilm | Discard |
| Bloated packaging | Gas produced by bacteria inside | Discard immediately — do not open |
| Can denting, bulging, or rusting | Compromised seal | Discard. Bulging cans can indicate botulism risk |
Smell
| Sign | What It Indicates | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Sour or vinegar-like smell (meat, dairy) | Bacterial fermentation | Discard |
| Ammonia or fishy smell (seafood, poultry) | Protein breakdown from bacteria | Discard |
| Rancid or "old oil" smell (nuts, oils, flour) | Fat oxidation | Discard or use only for non-eating purposes |
| Off-putting or "just wrong" smell | Trust your nose — it evolved for this | Discard if you are unsure |
| No smell on previously aromatic food | Flavor degradation (not dangerous) | Safe but low quality |
Texture
| Sign | What It Indicates | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Slimy or sticky (meat, produce) | Bacterial growth | Discard |
| Extremely soft or mushy (produce) | Cell breakdown | Discard if accompanied by smell changes |
| Hard or dry (bread, baked goods) | Moisture loss (staling) | Safe but low quality — toast it |
| Ice crystals on frozen food | Freezer burn (air exposure) | Safe but degraded quality |
| Curdled or separated (dairy) | Protein denaturation | Discard if unintentional (check smell) |
The golden rule: When in doubt, throw it out. The cost of discarding one questionable item is always less than the cost of foodborne illness.
How Long Food Really Lasts Past the Date
This table shows how long 20 common foods typically remain safe and usable past their printed date label when stored properly.
Refrigerated Items
| Food | Date Type | Safe Past Date | Storage Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | Sell by | 5-7 days | Keep at back of fridge (coldest area), not in the door |
| Yogurt (unopened) | Best by | 1-2 weeks | Sealed containers last longer; check for mold on surface |
| Eggs | Sell by / Best by | 3-5 weeks | Refrigerated eggs last well beyond the date. Do the float test: fresh eggs sink, old eggs float |
| Hard cheese (cheddar, parmesan) | Best by | 3-6 months (unopened), 3-4 weeks (opened) | Wrap tightly to prevent drying. Cut mold off hard cheese (1 inch around mold) |
| Soft cheese (brie, cream cheese) | Use by | 1-2 weeks (unopened) | Discard if moldy — mold penetrates soft cheese deeply |
| Butter | Sell by | 1-2 months (fridge), 6-9 months (freezer) | High fat content preserves well |
| Deli meat (unopened) | Use by | 3-5 days (unopened), 3-5 days (opened) | One of the higher-risk items. Eat within date if possible |
| Condiments (ketchup, mustard) | Best by | 6-12 months past date | High acid/sugar content preserves well |
| Salad dressing (unopened) | Best by | 1-3 months | Oil-based lasts longer than cream-based |
| Fresh chicken or beef (raw) | Sell by / Use by | 1-2 days past sell-by (fridge), months if frozen | Freeze immediately if you will not cook by the date |
Pantry Items
| Food | Date Type | Safe Past Date | Storage Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canned goods (low acid: beans, vegetables) | Best by | 2-5 years | Cans in good condition (no dents, rust, bulging) last extremely long |
| Canned goods (high acid: tomatoes, fruit) | Best by | 1-2 years | Acid degrades can lining faster |
| Dried pasta | Best by | 1-2 years | Store in airtight container. Virtually does not spoil |
| White rice | Best by | 2-5 years (indefinite if sealed) | Keep dry and sealed. Brown rice lasts only 6-12 months (oils go rancid) |
| Cereal and granola | Best by | 6-12 months | May go stale but remains safe |
| Honey | Best by | Indefinite | Honey literally never spoils. If it crystallizes, warm gently to re-liquify |
| Cooking oils | Best by | 3-6 months (opened) | Store in cool, dark place. Rancid oil smells off but is not toxic in small amounts |
| Chips and crackers | Best by | 1-3 months | May go stale. Still safe |
| Spices (dried) | Best by | 1-3 years past date | Lose potency but do not become unsafe. Smell to check strength |
| Chocolate | Best by | 6-12 months | White film (bloom) is cosmetic, not harmful |
Foods You Should Not Eat Past the Date
While most foods are safe past their dates, some carry higher risk:
- Infant formula — The only federally regulated expiration date. Do not use past the date.
- Fresh deli meats and hot dogs — High risk for Listeria, which grows at refrigerator temperatures. Follow the use-by date closely.
- Raw shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) — Extremely perishable. Eat by the date or the day of purchase.
- Soft cheeses — Listeria risk, especially for pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals.
- Pre-made salads and pre-cut fruit — High surface area for bacterial growth. Follow the use-by date.
- Fresh juice (unpasteurized) — No pasteurization means bacteria multiply quickly. Follow the date.
How to Reduce Food Waste
Understanding date labels is one of the easiest ways to reduce food waste. Here are additional strategies:
- Move older items to the front of your fridge and pantry. First in, first out.
- Freeze food approaching its date. Freezing pauses the clock on perishable items.
- Plan your meals for the week so you buy only what you will eat. Apps like Mealift generate shopping lists based on your meal plan, which prevents overbuying.
- Use the "sniff test" before discarding. If it looks fine and smells fine, it probably is fine.
- Learn which foods last longest and build meals around them as the week progresses. Eat fish early in the week, chicken mid-week, and beef or plant-based proteins later.
FAQ
Is it safe to eat food after the "best by" date?
In most cases, yes. "Best by" indicates peak quality, not safety. The food may have slightly diminished flavor or texture, but it is not dangerous to eat. Canned goods, dried pasta, rice, and many shelf-stable items are safe for months to years past their best-by date.
What does "sell by" mean for consumers?
Very little. The sell-by date is for the retailer, telling them when to pull the product from shelves. It is not an expiration date. Milk is typically good for 5-7 days after the sell-by date. Eggs are good for 3-5 weeks after. Do not throw away food just because the sell-by date has passed.
How do I tell if eggs are still good?
Use the float test: place the egg in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs sink and lie flat. Slightly older eggs sink but stand upright. If an egg floats, it has too much air inside (from moisture loss over time) and should be discarded. You can also crack the egg onto a plate — fresh eggs have a firm, rounded yolk and thick whites. Old eggs have a flat yolk and runny whites.
Can canned food really last years past its date?
Yes. Canned food is commercially sterilized during processing. As long as the can is in good condition (no dents, rust, bulging, or leaking), the food inside remains safe for years past the printed date. Quality (flavor, texture, nutritional value) gradually declines, but safety is maintained by the hermetic seal.
Why does the US not require expiration dates on food?
The FDA and USDA consider date labels to be quality indicators, not safety indicators (with the exception of infant formula). Requiring "expiration" dates could mislead consumers into thinking food becomes dangerous on a specific date, potentially increasing food waste. Some lawmakers have proposed standardizing labels, but no comprehensive federal legislation has passed.
Is it safe to eat food with freezer burn?
Yes. Freezer burn is a quality issue, not a safety issue. The dry, discolored patches are caused by dehydration from air exposure. The food is safe to eat but may have an off-flavor and dry texture in the burned areas. Cut away heavily freezer-burned portions and use the rest normally.
How long does bread last past the date?
Store-bought bread typically lasts 5-7 days past the best-by date at room temperature and 2-3 months in the freezer. Watch for mold — if you see any mold on bread, discard the entire loaf (mold spores spread through soft, porous foods even where invisible). Toasting bread that is slightly stale restores much of its texture and flavor.
Should I throw away expired spices?
No. Dried spices do not spoil or become unsafe — they lose potency. A spice that is a year past its date may need to be used in larger quantities to achieve the same flavor. Smell a pinch: if the aroma is strong, it is still good. If there is little to no aroma, replace it for better cooking results but know it is not harmful.