Are the dates on food packages important for food safety or just suggestions for best quality?
These dates – “best by,” “sell by” and “use by” – mean different things and often are not required by federal law to be on the package. Most dates you see on food packages are not related to food safety; they tell you how long the product stays at peak quality. Those foods are safe and useable beyond those dates. However, there are some important exceptions: Meat and poultry are labeled with “sell by” dates that are related to food safety. They should be cooked or frozen within two days after the sell-by date on the package. Eggs may or may not have a “sell by” date, depending on state laws. Buy eggs before the date limit and use them within 3 to 5 weeks of purchase. As long as you store them properly – in their original carton and in the coldest part of the refrigerator (not the door) – even if the “sell-by” date expires during that time, the eggs are quite safe. Infant formula and many baby foods are required to carry “use by” dates, which reflect quality as well as nutrient retentio
