Food safety
Best By vs Use By vs Sell By: What Food Date Labels Really Mean
By Basit Sharif · Co-founder of Stoviro
Last updated · 7 min read
Most dates on US food are about quality, not safety. What each label means, how long eggs and canned food really last, and when to throw food out.
The USDA estimates that about 30 percent of the US food supply is lost or wasted in stores and homes, and confusion over date labels is part of the reason. People throw out food that's perfectly good because the date has passed. Here's what the labels actually mean in the US, and how to tell when food really is past it.
Most dates aren't required by law
According to the USDA, apart from infant formula, federal law doesn't require dates on food. Manufacturers choose to add them, and set the dates themselves, mostly to tell you when the food is at its best. Some states have their own rules for certain foods, such as milk, so labels can vary from place to place.
What each label means
| Label | What it means | Is it about safety? |
|---|---|---|
| Best if Used By / Best By | When the food will taste and feel its best | No — quality only |
| Sell By | How long the store should display it, for stock control | No — it's for the store |
| Use By | The last date recommended for peak quality | Only on infant formula |
| Freeze By | Freeze it before this date to keep the best quality | No — quality only |
The USDA asks manufacturers to use “Best if Used By”, because research shows people read it as a quality date rather than a deadline.
So is food safe after the date?
The USDA says that, apart from infant formula, foods are often still safe after their date if they've been stored properly — until they show signs of spoilage, like an off smell, flavor or texture, or mold. “Stored properly” matters most: a yogurt kept at 38°F can outlast its date, while one left in a hot car may not make it to its date at all.
Some foods deserve extra caution, especially for anyone pregnant, older, very young or with a weakened immune system: deli meats, soft cheeses, raw shellfish and anything that has been left out of the fridge. Spoilage you can see and smell isn't the only risk — some harmful bacteria don't change how food looks or smells at all.
When in doubt, throw it out. A date tells you about quality; how the food has been stored tells you much more about safety.
How long common foods really last
| Food | How long it keeps | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Eggs | 3–5 weeks in the fridge from the day you buy them | Cracked shells; an off smell when cracked |
| High-acid canned food (tomatoes, fruit, juice) | 12–18 months unopened | Bulging, leaking, rusted or dented cans |
| Low-acid canned food (meat, fish, most vegetables) | 2–5 years unopened, stored cool and dry | Bulging, leaking, rusted or dented cans |
| Frozen food kept at 0°F | Safe indefinitely; quality slowly drops | Freezer burn affects taste, not safety |
| Hard cheese | Keep wrapped in the fridge | A small mold spot: cut 1 inch around and below it |
| Soft cheese, yogurt, sour cream | Check after opening | Any mold — throw the whole thing out |
Dates on the pack apply to unopened food. Once you open something, its opened storage time applies instead — opened mayonnaise keeps about 2 months in the fridge, whatever the jar says.
How to check food that's past its date
- Look: mold, slime, discoloration or a bulging package. Mold on soft food means the whole thing goes.
- Smell: sour, rotten or simply “wrong” means it's done.
- Feel: sticky or slimy meat and fish, or a changed texture in dairy.
- Think about storage: was it left out for more than 2 hours, or thawed and refrozen? Was the package damaged?
If food passes all four checks and was stored properly, it's very likely fine. If you're unsure — especially with meat, fish, deli food or anything for a vulnerable person — throw it out.
Frequently asked questions
Can I eat eggs after the sell-by date?
Usually, yes. The USDA says eggs keep 3 to 5 weeks in the fridge from the day you buy them, and the sell-by date often passes during that time. Keep them in their carton, on a shelf rather than in the door.
Are canned goods safe after the best-by date?
If the can is in good condition, generally yes. The USDA says low-acid canned food keeps 2 to 5 years and high-acid canned food 12 to 18 months. Throw out any can that is bulging, leaking, rusted or badly dented.
What happens if I freeze food on its use-by date?
Freezing stops the clock. Food kept at 0°F stays safe indefinitely, though quality slowly drops. Once thawed in the fridge, treat it like fresh food and use it soon.
Is it ever unsafe to ignore the date?
Yes — always follow the use-by date on infant formula. Its nutrients and quality are only guaranteed until then.
Track the dates without thinking about them
When you add food to Stoviro's Kitchen inventory, you can save the date on the pack and whether it's a use-by or best-before. Stoviro flags what to use soon, and the AI recipe generator suggests dinners that use it first.
Sources
General information, not medical or professional food-safety advice. For your situation, follow the guidance on the packaging and from the USDA and FDA.