🏷️ Interactive Expiration Date Decoder
Understand what food labels really mean and stop wasting money on perfectly good food
💡 Did You Know?
Most date labels indicate quality, not safety. The FDA and USDA confirm that food is usually safe to eat past these dates. Only infant formula has true safety-based expiration dates under federal law.
Click any food to see detailed storage information and label meanings
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🎯 Essential Date Label Guidelines
📅 Quality vs Safety
Most date labels indicate when food tastes best, not when it becomes unsafe. Trust your senses – if it looks, smells, and tastes normal, it’s likely fine.
🏪 Sell By Dates
These are for store inventory management, not consumers. Food is typically good for days or weeks after “Sell By” dates when stored properly.
💰 Save Money
The average family throws away $1,500 worth of food annually due to date confusion. Understanding labels can significantly reduce this waste.
🌡️ Storage Matters
Proper storage extends food life well beyond date labels. Keep refrigerator at 40°F or below and use FIFO (first in, first out) rotation.
📚 Official Sources & References
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. “Food Product Dating.” FSIS.USDA.gov.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “USDA-FDA Seek Information About Food Date Labeling.” FDA.gov. Updated December 2024.
- University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. “Best by vs. sell by: UGA food safety expert explains expiration dates.” UGA FACS.
- ReFED. “Date Labeling Regulations.” ReFED Policy Finder.
- U.S. Government Accountability Office. “Date Labels on Packaged Foods: USDA and FDA Could Take Additional Steps to Reduce Consumer Confusion.” GAO.gov. April 2019.
- GoodRx Health. “How Accurate Are ‘Best By’ Dates and Other Expiration Date Labels?” GoodRx.com. November 2021.
