Best By, Use By, Sell By, What Food Dates Actually Mean
USDA and FDA explain which food date labels are about quality, which one is legally required, and how to decide whether food past its date is still good.
The date stamped on a carton or box looks official, so it is natural to treat it like an expiration deadline. For almost every food in your kitchen, it is not. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) both explain what those dates mean, and the short version is that most of them describe quality, not safety.
Most food dates are not required at all
FSIS states it plainly: except for infant formula, product dating is not required by federal regulations. Manufacturers add dates voluntarily. The FDA's consumer update says the same for packaged foods and adds that manufacturers do not need agency approval for the quality dates they use, or to explain how they picked them, though the label still cannot be false or misleading.
When a manufacturer does put a date on a meat, poultry, or egg product, FSIS rules set the format: the date must show the month and day, shelf-stable and frozen products must also show the year, and a phrase explaining the date (such as "Best if Used By") must sit right next to it.
What each phrase means
FSIS defines the common phrases this way:
| Phrase on the label | What it means | Is it a safety date? |
|---|---|---|
| Best if Used By / Before | When the product will be at its best flavor or quality | No |
| Sell-By | How long the store should display the product, for inventory | No |
| Use-By | The last date recommended for use at peak quality | No, except on infant formula |
| Freeze-By | When to freeze the product to keep peak quality | No |
FSIS notes that there are no uniform or universally accepted descriptions for these dates in the United States, which is why you see so many variations on store shelves.
The one date that really is a deadline
Infant formula is the exception. Federal regulations require a "Use-By" date on infant formula, and FSIS explains why: using formula by that date ensures it still contains the amount of each nutrient listed on the label and still has a quality that passes through an ordinary bottle nipple. The FDA adds that the manufacturer sets that date based on product testing across its shelf life. FSIS's guidance is direct: do not buy or use infant formula after its Use-By date.
Is food safe after the date passes?
For everything except infant formula, FSIS says that if the date passes while the food is in home storage, it should still be safe and wholesome if handled properly until spoilage is evident. The key phrase is "if handled properly." A date cannot make up for food that was left out, thawed badly, or stored too warm.
FSIS describes how to tell when food has actually spoiled. Spoilage bacteria give food an off odor, flavor, or texture, and food with those signs should not be eaten. FSIS also notes that a change in the color of meat or poultry is not, by itself, an indicator of spoilage.
The FDA's advice for pantry items is similar: check foods past their "Best if Used By" date, and if they have changed noticeably in color, consistency, or texture, you may want to skip them.
One caution worth keeping in mind: spoilage bacteria and the bacteria that cause foodborne illness are different organisms. Passing a smell test tells you about quality, not whether the food was handled safely along the way.
What about the codes on cans?
Cans often carry a string of letters and numbers instead of, or alongside, a readable date. FSIS calls this a "closed" or coded date. It identifies when the product was canned, so manufacturers can rotate stock and find products in a recall. It is not meant for consumers to read as a quality date.
FSIS does give quality windows for canned food:
- High-acid canned foods (such as tomatoes and fruit): best quality for 12 to 18 months.
- Low-acid canned foods (such as meats and vegetables): two to five years.
FSIS also says to discard cans that are dented, rusted, or swollen, regardless of date.
Why FSIS and FDA push "Best if Used By"
Both agencies connect date confusion to food waste:
- FSIS cites a USDA estimate that 30 percent of the food supply is lost or wasted at the retail and consumer levels.
- The FDA says Americans throw out about a third of their food, worth about $161 billion a year, and that confusion about date labels is believed to drive about 20 percent of food waste in the home.
To cut that confusion, FSIS recommends that manufacturers who use dates choose "Best if Used By," and the FDA supports the food industry's effort to standardize on that phrase for quality dates. Research cited by both agencies shows it signals to shoppers that the food does not have to be thrown out on that day if it has been stored properly.
A simple way to use dates at home
- Treat "Sell-By" as the store's business. Buy it, store it properly, and judge it by quality at home.
- Treat "Best if Used By" as a quality hint. Check color, texture, and smell after the date.
- Treat infant formula "Use-By" as a hard stop.
- Ignore can codes for quality, but always discard damaged cans.
- Use your freezer for food you will not get to in time. The FDA calls the freezer a great way to keep many foods at their best until you are ready for them.
Key takeaways
- Except for infant formula, federal law does not require dates on food; "Best if Used By," "Sell-By," "Use-By," and "Freeze-By" are quality or inventory dates, not safety dates.
- Infant formula's "Use-By" date is required and should not be passed.
- Food past its date should still be safe if handled properly; discard it if it develops an off odor, flavor, or texture.
- High-acid canned foods keep best quality for 12 to 18 months and low-acid ones for two to five years; discard dented, rusted, or swollen cans.
- USDA and FDA promote "Best if Used By" because date confusion drives a large share of household food waste.