Food Storage Guidelines - USDA-Food Labeling and Product Dating - Explanation and Safety Guidance

Oct 2, 2026

Food Storage Guidelines explain how to read food labels related to product dating, including sell-by, best if used by, and use-by. The guidelines clarify that most dates are quality markers rather than safety guarantees, and provide conditions for safe storage such as keeping refrigerated items at 40°F or below. It also covers mishandling risks, off-odor or appearance signs of spoilage, and how can packing codes differ from consumer-facing dates. Guidance includes specific requirements for infant formula and FDA-inspected baby food.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Food Storage Guidelines

Explanation of Food Labeling and Product Dating

USDA-Food Labeling and Product Dating

What is Dating?

Is Dating Required by Federal Law?

Types of Dates

Safety After Date Expires

Dating Formula & Baby Food

What Do Can Codes Mean?

Dates on Egg Cartons

FOOD STORAGE GUIDELINES Explanation of Food Labeling and Product Dating Shelf Stable Foods Bakery Products Fresh Produce Frozen Foods Refrigerated Foods Simple Food Storage Guidelines USDA-FOOD LABELING AND PRODUCT DATING "Sell by Feb 14" is a type of information you might find on a meat or poultry product. Are dates required on food products? Does it mean the product will be unsafe to use after that date? Here is some background information which answers these and other questions about product dating. What is Dating? "Open Dating" (use of a calendar date as opposed to a code) on a food product is a date stamped on a product's package to help the store determine how long to display the product for sale. It can also help the purchaser to know the time limit to purchase or use the product at its best quality. It is not a safety date. After the date passes, while not of best quality, the product should still be safe if handled properly and kept at 40 °F or below for the recommended storage times listed on the chart (see below) . If product has a "use-by" date, follow that date. If product has a "sell-by" date or no date, cook or freeze the product by the times on the chart. Is Dating Required by Federal Law? Except for infant formula and some baby food (see below), product dating is not generally required by Federal regulations. However, if a calendar date is used, it must express both the month and day of the month (and the year, in the case of shelf-stable and frozen products) . If a calendar date is shown, immediately adjacent to the date must be a phrase explaining the meaning of that date such as "sell-by" or "use before. " There is no uniform or universally accepted system used for food dating in the United States. Although dating of some foods is required by more than 20 states, there are areas of the country where much of the food supply has some type of open date and other areas where almost no food is dated. What Types of Food Are Dated? Open dating is found primarily on perishable foods such as meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products. "Closed" or"coded" dating might appear on shelf-stable products such as cans and boxes of food. Types of Dates 􀁸 A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires. 􀁸 A "Best if Used By (or Before)" date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date. 􀁸 A "Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product. 􀁸 "Closed or coded dates" are packing numbers for use by the manufacturer. Safety After Date Expires Except for "use-by" dates, product dates don't always refer to home storage and use after purchase. "Use-by" dates usually refer to best quality and are not safety dates. But even if the date expires during home storage, a product should be safe, wholesome and of good quality—if handled properly and kept at 40° F or below. See the accompanying refrigerator charts for storage times of dated products. If product has a "use-by" date, follow that date. If product has a "sell-by" date or no date, cook or freeze the product by the times on the chart. Foods can develop an off odor, flavor or appearance due to spoilage bacteria. If a food has developed such characteristics, you should not use it for quality reasons. If foods are mishandled, however, foodborne bacteria can grow and cause foodborne illness--before or after the date on the package. For example, if hot dogs are taken to a picnic and left out several hours, they wouldn't be safe if used thereafter, even if the date hasn't expired. Other examples of potential mishandling are products that have been: defrosted at room temperature more than two hours; cross contaminated; or handled by people who don't use proper sanitary practices. Make sure to follow the handling and preparation instruc

FAQs

Does a sell-by date mean the food is unsafe after that date?

A sell-by date helps stores manage shelf display and is not a safety date. After the date passes, the product may not be at best quality, but it should still be safe if handled properly and kept at 40°F or below for recommended storage times.

What is the difference between best if used by and use-by dates?

Best if used by indicates recommended timing for best flavor or quality and is not a purchase or safety date. Use-by is the last date recommended for use while the product is at peak quality, determined by the manufacturer, and should be followed.

What do can packing codes mean, and are they the same as use-by dates?

Can packing codes are packing numbers used for tracking and inventory rotation and may relate to date or time of manufacture. They are not meant for consumers to interpret as use-by dates, and there is no universal reference book to translate them.

Oct 2, 2026

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