Do you ever find yourself worrying about whether it's still okay to eat that little past-its-expiration-date container of milk or package of chicken? Those dates need to be explained. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards state that expiry dates are more indicative of quality standards than of absolute safety dates.
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Deciphering the Use of Food Use By Dates
Food packaging sometimes includes phrases such as "Best if Used By," "Use By," and "Sell By," which may cause misunderstanding and result in wasted food. These labels mostly show how long the food will be at its best before it gets bad, not how long it will be at its worst. A brief explanation is as follows:
When you should use the product for maximum taste and quality, look for the "Best if Used By" date.