Expiration Dates: What Do They Mean?

Most of us can probably say we have taken something out of the refrigerator, noticed that the date printed on the package is past the current date, and tossed the item into the garbage without thinking twice. It’s better to be safe than sorry, right? Recently, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic released a report regarding food waste and misunderstanding of expiration dates in America. The article below, titled “Is Your Food Expired? Don’t Be So Quick to Toss It,” was featured on TIME Magazine’s website to educate consumers on what expiration dates really indicate. According to the article, 40% of the US food supply goes to waste each year due to confusion of expiration dates (Sifferlin, 2013).

So what does the dates on our food packaging actually mean? The article provides the following clarifications to give consumers a better understanding of food packaging lingo:

 “Use by” and “Best by”: These dates are intended for consumer use, but are typically the date the manufacturer deems the product reaches peak freshness. It’s not a date to indicate spoilage, nor does it necessarily signal that the food is no longer safe to eat.

·         “Sell by”: This date is only intended to help manufacturers and retailers, not consumers. It’s a stocking and marketing tool provided by food makers to ensure proper turnover of the products in the store so they still have a long shelf life after consumers buy them. Consumers, however, are misinterpreting it as a date to guide their buying decisions. The report authors say that “sell by” dates should be made invisible to the consumer.  (Sifferlin, 2013)

Additionally, the article mentions some common food items and their safe, as well as fresh, shelf life lengths:

·         Eggs – safe 3-5 weeks after purchasing as long as they are refrigerated.

·         Canned goods – remains safe after a year of sitting on a pantry shelf  

·         Apples – 3-5 weeks if refrigerated or 8 months if they have been cooked and frozen

·         Cereal – 6-8 months

·         Meat

o   Lunch meats – consume within 3-5 weeks of purchasing

o   Frozen deli meat – lasts for up to 2 months

o   Frozen beef stew meat – lasts for up to 9 months

(Sifferlin, 2013)

The article reminds consumers of the USDA’s tip to freeze foods as a way to reduce waste and keep them safe (Sifferlin, 2013).

Sifferlin, Alexandra. "Is Your Food Expired? Don't Be So Quick to Toss It." TIME. N.p., 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 2 Nov. 2013. <http://healthland.time.com/2013/09/18/is-your-food-expired-dont-be-so-quick-to-toss-it/>.

-SH