Rising grocery prices are straining many people’s wallets.
Understanding the “best by” and “use by” dates on food can save you money.
Best by or best if used by is a date that indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality
Jesse Garcia with the SDA Food safety says ‘best by’ or ‘best if used by’ dates are peak quality dates– not safety dates.
Adding the date is determined by the manufacturer, not regulatory agencies.
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And when it comes to freeze by dates — those also do not indicate safety.
It suggests when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality.
We asked: How long after those best by or use by dates is something still good to eat?
With the exception of infant formula if the date passes during home storage a product should still be safe if handled properly until the spoilage starts. In other words if you kept it properly refrigerated, sealed or frozen it should be good if there’s no spoiling present
Garcia says it should be easy to detect if it’s spoiled.
“Spoiled foods will develop an odor, a flavor or texture due to naturally occurring bacteria,” he said.
Garcia says when in doubt, throw it out so you don’t get sick.
You can also download the USDA’s “Food Keeper” app. It tells you how to store items to help you maximize the freshness and quality.
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