Are You Confused by the Food Label: "Best-by," "Use-by," and "Sell-by?"

Posted by: YijunW

Have you tossed away food because you aren't sure what the label means? You’re not the only one. Nine out of 10 buyers are confused by the USDA food label and the average family is throwing away $1,500 per year of food that is perfect to eat because of confusing food labels, said Sasha Stashwick from the National Resource Defense Council.

The “best if used by” press is not an expiration date or an indicator about the safety of the food. It is a manufacturers' best guess on when food will be at its peak quality.

Sasha Stashwick said most foods can last longer if they are stored properly. For example, eggs can last three to five weeks after purchase and milk can last at least a week beyond the printed "best if used by" date.

"Use-by" date indicates the expiration date at which you finish the food; because of its quality rather than sick concern, according to Bob Brackett, director of the Institute for Food Safety and Health at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Dr. Brackett says that "sell-by" is for the retailers rather than the consumers. It informs sellers the date by which the product should be sold or removed from shelves. The "sell-by" date does not indicate the product is unsafe for consumers after the date. Commonly, one-third of the product's shelf-life remains after the "sell-by" date.

To read more, please visit:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-usda-food-label-guidelines-aim-to-prevent-food-waste/
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