What Do Food Expiration Dates Really Mean?

— Written By Sue Estridge
en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.


Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.


English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲
NC STATE EXTENSION

Homegrown

You’ve probably found yourself in the kitchen or at the grocery store mulling over the various dates listed on many food products. You know, those best-before dates, sell-by dates, born-on dates, use-by dates and so on.

But what do these dates actually mean? Do I have to dump the 11 eggs I haven’t touched yet? Is my food safe?

At ease, soldier, we have your answers.

These various food packaging dates are often established by the food manufacturers in relation to product quality, not necessarily the safety of the product that’s being consumed. However, food label dates can have different implications for different products (e.g., milk, cheese, raw meat, sauces and soups, fresh produce, and even infant formula).

Watch our food safety specialist, Ben Chapman at NC State Extension, dish out facts that will help you decipher those food date labels and the ramifications on food safety and quality.

Find more resources on NC State Extension’s Food Safety Portal.

Special thanks to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, a nonprofit organization that has provided food for people at risk of hunger for more than 35 years, for their time and support of Homegrown.

More Food for Thought

Grass-fed, all natural, no antibiotics, organic…what does it all mean? See for yourself in our meat labels series.