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"Use-By" and "Sell-By" Dates

Last Updated: June 30, 2011

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The vast majority of food products you buy at the grocery store are marked with a “use-by” or “sell-by” date. These dates provide a guideline to follow when deciding whether or not to eat a certain food.

  • The “sell-by” date is used to tell the store how long to keep the product on the shelf; you should buy products before this date.
  • The “use-by” date is determined by the manufacturer of the product and serves as a recommended last date to use the product while it is at its best quality.

Both of these dates serve as a reference point and are not dates to be used to determine safety of the product.

For more information about “use-by” and “sell-by” dates visit the following web site:

Food Product Dating

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