Here’s what those food label dates actually mean (courtesy of the USDA):

📆 Best if Used By/Before – Quality, not safety.
🛒 Sell-By – For store inventory, not a safety date.
🍽️ Use-By – Peak quality, not spoilage (except for baby formula).
❄️ Freeze-By – For best freezing results, not expiration.
⚠️ Expires/Exp. Date – This is NOT a true safety cutoff.  It is an indication of quality.

Most dates don’t mean the food is unsafe! Let’s rethink how we read labels, reduce waste, and feed more people. 💚

Sources: USDA, Feeding America, and more.