Understanding What Those Dates Really Mean—and When Food Is Still Safe to Eat
Expiration dates on food packaging often create confusion, fear, or unnecessary waste. The image of a canned item marked “BEST If Used By Dec 2021” is a perfect example of how misleading—or misunderstood—these labels can be. Many people throw food away the moment it passes the printed date, but experts say that most of these dates are not about safety at all.
Here’s what you truly need to know.
🕒 1. “Best Before” and “Best If Used By” ≠ Safety Risk
Most people assume that the date on a food label means the food becomes unsafe after that day.
This is not true for the vast majority of foods.
Terms like:
- Best Before
- Best If Used By
- Best By
- Best When Used By
are all quality indicators, not safety warnings.
They simply tell you how long the manufacturer guarantees the product will taste its best, retain its texture, or keep its original color. After that date, the food may not be as flavorful—but it is often still safe to eat.
🛑 2. The Only True Safety Date: “Use By” (for some foods)
A “Use By” date is the closest thing to a safety deadline, and even this mostly applies to:
- baby formula
- some prepared refrigerated foods
- deli meats
- soft cheeses
For canned goods, dried products, pasta, rice, and most snacks, a “Use By” date still refers to quality, not spoilage.
🥫 3. What About Canned Foods Like the One in the Image?
Canned foods are among the longest-lasting foods in your pantry. In many cases, they remain safe for years after their “best before” date.
Why?
Because cans are:
- sealed airtight
- heat-sterilized
- protected from bacteria
- shelf-stable
A can labeled “BEST If Used By Dec 2021” is saying:
👉 “We guarantee the texture and flavor are best before this date.”
Not:
❌ “It becomes dangerous afterward.”
In fact, the USDA states that properly stored canned foods can last indefinitely, though quality may decline after 2–5 years depending on the type of food.
🧪 4. How to Check If a Food Is Truly Spoiled
Instead of relying solely on dates, food scientists recommend using the “Look, Smell, Taste (if safe)” method:
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