Do you toss food once the date on the label has passed? Experts say
that's often a waste
[July 29, 2026]
By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — If you’ve ever tossed out a carton of milk or a
container of yogurt solely because the date on the packaging had passed,
you’re not alone.
Many people throw away food simply because of the date printed on the
label. But often it is still perfectly edible, according to experts.
With no federal regulations requiring standardized labels for dates on
food except for baby formula, it’s no surprise that deciphering terms
like “Best Before,” “Best By,” “Best If Used By,” “Enjoy By,” and “Sell
By” can be mind-boggling.
What most people don’t realize is that those labels are more about how
fresh something is — not how safe the food is to eat.
California is trying to bring some clarity with a new law that requires
food manufacturers to use just two labels: one for quality and another
for safety.
Here are a few tips to help you understand food date labels and keep
perfectly good food out of the trash even if you don't live in
California.
More than 50 different date labels are used in the US
In the United States, more than 80% of consumers discard food
approaching the package date label at least occasionally, a 2019 study
by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found.
“The date labels guarantee quality up until that point,” said Donald
Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University. “They are not
about the safety of a product.”
Food date labels vary state by state and are determined by the food
manufacturer. Researchers from the University of Maryland found that
more than 50 different date labels are used across the United States.
“They’re based on when the manufacturer thinks that product will taste
its best, when its quality will be at its peak,” said Rachel Zemser, a
San Francisco Bay Area food scientist who helps food companies design,
launch and market new food products.
Food packaging helps determine how long food is safe to eat
Unopened canned food like beans, tomatoes, fruit, vegetables, and any
shelf-stable food package in liquid, will last for years after the date
stamped on its label. The same goes for boxes of soy milk or boxes of
almond milk, or any food that’s been heat-treated and sealed to stay
safe without refrigeration.
Dry goods, like cookies, crackers and cereal, also have a long shelf
life because the low moisture in them doesn’t allow bacteria to grow.
“People can use their best judgment by smelling and tasting the product
because dry crackers and cookies, and things of that nature, may be
stale but they are not going to make you sick if you eat them,” Zemser
said.
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 But extra precautions should be
taken with beef, chicken or fish. They can go bad even if it’s in
your refrigerator, but wrapping them tight in plastic and freezing
it before the “best by” date on its packaging could help it last
longer.
“Most bacteria needs moisture and air to grow and thrive, so very
dry products will last, but I wouldn’t risk it with meat,” Zemser
said.
The FoodKeeper, a website and free app developed by the Department
of Agriculture, Cornell University, and the Food Marketing
Institute, provides guidance on how long foods stay fresh and safe
to eat.
California is trying to clarify label confusion
California became the first state in the U.S. to standardize food
labels by banning “sell by” dates.
The law that went into effect July 1 requires manufacturers selling
food in California to use two standardized labels: a “Best If Used
By” label for peak quality and a “Use By” label for product safety.
“Sell by” dates are used by stores to ensure products are being
displayed for a reasonable amount of time before quality declines,
said Nate Rose, a spokesperson for the California Grocers
Association.
“Think of it like an internal referencing system for store managers
and employees,” he said.
New York state lawmakers recently passed a similar measure for
labels that is awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature.
Most labels are about food quality, not safety
The only product legally required by the federal government to have
an expiration date is infant formula. It should not be consumed past
that date because its nutrients decline over time.
“Infant formula is the sole source of nutrition for the infant, and
the concern is that the child could have a nutritional deficiency”
if given expired formula, Schaffner said.
In general, people should use their own judgment and look for signs
like mold, strange odors and unusual colors to decide whether or not
to toss out food.
And follow your taste buds.
“Practice your own food stock rotation, buy appropriate amounts of
food, don’t buy giant amounts that you won’t be able to eat,”
Schaffner said. “Because who wants to eat poor quality food?”
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