If you’re like most people, you probably don’t give expiration dates much thought. You’ve probably noticed expiration dates on food products and assumed they were put there for your safety. WRONG. While that’s partially true, the history of these dates is a little more complicated than you might think. These dates are a big deal, but understanding the different types can help you save money and avoid food poisoning. In this blog post, we’ll look at the history, different types of expiration dates, and which ones matter.
The Different Types of Expiration Dates
You might not know this, but there are actually three different types of expiration dates: “sell by,” “use by,” and “best before.” Here’s a quick breakdown of each:
Sell by: This date is meant for retailers, not consumers. It tells store employees when they need to remove a product from shelves.
Use by: This date indicates when a product will start to deteriorate in quality. After this date has passed, the food might not taste as fresh, but it will still be safe to eat.
Best before: This date is similar to the “use by” date but applies to non-perishable items like canned goods and cereals. Once this date has passed, the food might not taste as fresh, but it will still be safe to eat.
The History of Food Dates
Expiration dates may seem like a modern invention, but they have a long history. The first expiration date was introduced in 1950 at a store called Marks & Spencers. At first, these dates were purely for quality control to ensure that customers were getting the freshest possible products. It wasn’t until 1970 that “Sell By” and “Best By” tags were added to most supermarkets. These tags are meant to inform customers when a product will no longer be at its peak freshness, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that the product has gone bad.
However, expiration dates are not always accurate. Many foods can be safely consumed after the date has passed. This is especially true for non-perishable foods like canned goods and dried pasta. So, the next time you see an expiration date on a food product, don’t be too quick to toss it in the trash. Chances are, it’s still good to eat.
Which Expiration Dates Matter?
So now that we know a little bit more about the different types of expiration dates, which ones should you actually pay attention to? The answer is simple: any date that says “use by” or “sell by.” These are the only two dates that are regulated by law. That means if a product has either one of these expiration dates, it needs to meet certain standards regarding quality and safety. So next time you’re grocery shopping, pay attention to these two types of dates – the other one isn’t worth worrying about!
Expiration dates are important — but not all of them are created equal. Pay attention to “use by” dates in particular. Those dates indicate when a product may no longer be safe to consume. Other dates (like “sell by” and “best before”) are less critical. However, you should still pay attention to get the most out of your food.
