Released February 13, 2009
STILLWATER, Okla. – If the date on the label of the food product you are about to consume is outdated, should you eat it?
Barbara Brown, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension food safety specialist, said there are different types of dating on products and knowing what each means will help consumers answer their food safety questions.
Open dating on a food product is a date stamped on the package to assist the store in determining how long to display the product for sale.
“An open date can also help the purchaser to know the time limit to purchase or use the product at its best quality,” she said. “It is not a safety date and after the date passes the product should still be safe if handled properly.”
The USDA recommends products should be kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below or for the recommended storage time. By federal regulations product dating is not required except for infant formula and some baby food.
Brown said open dating is primarily found on perishable foods such as meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products. Other types of dates include:
- Sell-by date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. The product should be bought before this date expires.
- Best if used by (or before) date is recommended for best flavor or quality. This is not a purchase or safety date.
- Use-by date is the last date recommended for use of the product while at peak quality. This date is determined by the manufacturer of the product.
- Closed or coded dates are packing numbers used by the manufacturer. These usually appear on shelf-stable products such as cans and boxes of food.
If product dates are not a guide for safe use of a product, how do consumers know how long to store the product and still use it at top quality?
“Products should be purchased before the date expires,” Brown said. “Also remember if the food is perishable take it home immediately after purchase and refrigerate it promptly or freeze it if you can’t use it within the recommended time. Once a perishable item is frozen, it doesn’t matter if the date expires because frozen foods are continuously safe.”
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http://www2.dasnr.okstate.edu/Members/katie.reim-40okstate.edu/what-do-food-product-dates-mean
Contact: Katie Reim, 405-744-6792, katie.reim@okstate.edu
