Food Product Dating: 'Sell By' and 'Use Before' Dates and What They Mean, Page Two
"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. Read the first part of this article here.
Dating formula and baby food
Federal regulations require a use-by date on the product label of infant formula and the varieties of baby food under FDA inspection. If consumed by that date, the formula or food must contain not less than the quantity of each nutrient as described on the label. Formula must maintain an acceptable quality to pass through an ordinary bottle nipple. If stored too long, formula can separate and clog the nipple.
Dating of baby food is for quality as well as for nutrient retention. Just as you might not want to eat stale potato chips, you wouldn't want to feed your baby meat or other foods that have an off flavor or texture.
The use-by date is selected by the manufacturer, packer or distributor of the product on the basis of product analysis throughout its shelf life; tests; or other information. It is also based on the conditions of handling, storage, preparation and use printed on the label. Do not buy or use baby formula or baby food after its use-by date.
What do can codes mean?
Cans must exhibit a packing code to enable tracking of the product in interstate commerce. This enables manufacturers to rotate their stock as well as to locate their products in the event of a recall.
These codes, which appear as a series of letters and/or numbers, might refer to the date or time of manufacture. They aren't meant for the consumer to interpret as "use-by" dates. There is no book which tells how to translate the codes into dates.
Cans may also display "open" or calendar dates. Usually these are "best if used by" dates for peak quality.
In general, high-acid canned foods such as tomatoes, grapefruit and pineapple can be stored on the shelf 12 to 18 months; low-acid canned foods such as meat, poultry, fish and most vegetables will keep two to five years -- if the can remains in good condition and has been stored in a cool, clean, dry place.
Dates on egg cartons
If the egg carton has an expiration date printed on it, such as "EXP May 1," be sure that the date has not passed when the eggs are purchased. That is the last day the store may sell the eggs as fresh.
On eggs which have a federal grademark, such as Grade AA, the date cannot be more than 30 days from the date the eggs were packed into the carton.
As long as you purchase a carton of eggs before the date expires, you should be able to use all the eggs safely in three to five weeks after the date you purchase them.
UPC or bar codes
Universal Product Codes appear on packages as black lines of varying widths above a series of numbers. They are not required by regulation but manufacturers print them on most product labels because scanners at supermarkets can "read" them quickly to record the price at checkout.
Bar codes are used by stores and manufacturers for inventory purposes and marketing information. When read by a computer, they can reveal such specific information as the manufacturer's name, product name, size of product and price. The numbers are not used to identify recalled products.
Storage times
Since product dates aren't a guide for safe use of a product, how long can the consumer store the food and still use it at top quality? Follow these tips:
- Purchase the product before the date expires.
- If perishable, take the food home immediately after purchase and refrigerate it promptly. Freeze it if you can't use it within times recommended on chart.
- Once a perishable product is frozen, it doesn't matter if the date expires because foods kept frozen continuously are safe indefinitely.
- Follow handling recommendations on product.
- Consult the following storage chart.
Refrigerator home storage (at 40° F or below) of fresh or uncooked 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 following chart.
PRODUCT
STORAGE TIMES AFTER PURCHASE
Poultry
1 or 2 days
Beef, Veal, Pork and Lamb
3 to 5 days
Ground Meat and Ground Poultry
1 or 2 days
Fresh Variety Meats (Liver, Tongue, Brain, Kidneys, Heart, Chitterlings)
1 or 2 days
Cured Ham, Cook-Before-Eating
5 to 7 days
Sausage from Pork, Beef or Turkey, Uncooked
1 or 2 days
Eggs
3 to 5 weeks
Refrigerator home storage(40° F or below) of processed products sealed at a plant
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 following chart.
PROCESSED PRODUCT
UNOPENED, AFTER PURCHASE
AFTER OPENING
Cooked Poultry
3 to 4 days
3 to 4 days
Cooked Sausage
3 to 4 days
3 to 4 days
Sausage, Hard/Dry, shelf-stable
6 weeks/pantry
3 weeks
Corned Beef, uncooked, in pouch with pickling juices
5 to 7 days
3 to 4 days
Vacuum-packed Dinners, Commercial Brand with USDA seal
2 weeks
3 to 4 days
Bacon
2 weeks
7 days
Hot dogs
2 weeks
1 week
Luncheon meat
2 weeks
3 to 5 days
Ham, fully cooked
7 days
slices, 3 days; whole, 7 days
Ham, canned, labeled "keep refrigerated"
9 months
3 to 4 days
Ham, canned, shelf stable
2 years/pantry
3 to 5 days
Canned Meat and Poultry, shelf stable
2 to 5 years/pantry
3 to 4 days
Federal regulations require a use-by date on the product label of infant formula and the varieties of baby food under FDA inspection. If consumed by that date, the formula or food must contain not less than the quantity of each nutrient as described on the label. Formula must maintain an acceptable quality to pass through an ordinary bottle nipple. If stored too long, formula can separate and clog the nipple.
Cans must exhibit a packing code to enable tracking of the product in interstate commerce. This enables manufacturers to rotate their stock as well as to locate their products in the event of a recall.
If the egg carton has an expiration date printed on it, such as "EXP May 1," be sure that the date has not passed when the eggs are purchased. That is the last day the store may sell the eggs as fresh.
Universal Product Codes appear on packages as black lines of varying widths above a series of numbers. They are not required by regulation but manufacturers print them on most product labels because scanners at supermarkets can "read" them quickly to record the price at checkout.
Since product dates aren't a guide for safe use of a product, how long can the consumer store the food and still use it at top quality? Follow these tips:
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 following chart.
PRODUCT
STORAGE TIMES AFTER PURCHASE
Poultry
1 or 2 days
Beef, Veal, Pork and Lamb
3 to 5 days
Ground Meat and Ground Poultry
1 or 2 days
Fresh Variety Meats (Liver, Tongue, Brain, Kidneys, Heart, Chitterlings)
1 or 2 days
Cured Ham, Cook-Before-Eating
5 to 7 days
Sausage from Pork, Beef or Turkey, Uncooked
1 or 2 days
Eggs
3 to 5 weeks
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 following chart.
| PROCESSED PRODUCT | UNOPENED, AFTER PURCHASE | AFTER OPENING |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked Poultry | 3 to 4 days | 3 to 4 days |
| Cooked Sausage | 3 to 4 days | 3 to 4 days |
| Sausage, Hard/Dry, shelf-stable | 6 weeks/pantry | 3 weeks |
| Corned Beef, uncooked, in pouch with pickling juices | 5 to 7 days | 3 to 4 days |
| Vacuum-packed Dinners, Commercial Brand with USDA seal | 2 weeks | 3 to 4 days |
| Bacon | 2 weeks | 7 days |
| Hot dogs | 2 weeks | 1 week |
| Luncheon meat | 2 weeks | 3 to 5 days |
| Ham, fully cooked | 7 days | slices, 3 days; whole, 7 days |
| Ham, canned, labeled "keep refrigerated" | 9 months | 3 to 4 days |
| Ham, canned, shelf stable | 2 years/pantry | 3 to 5 days |
| Canned Meat and Poultry, shelf stable | 2 to 5 years/pantry | 3 to 4 days |
About this article: This information provided by the US Food Safety Inspection Service.
