Use-By vs Best-Before vs Sell-By: What Food Dates Really Mean

Sell-by date

A sell-by date tells the store how long to display a product. It is not a safety date for consumers. Milk is often still good for several days after the sell-by date if it has been kept cold.

Best-if-used-by / best-before

A best-if-used-by or best-before date is about peak quality — flavor, texture, and freshness — not automatic spoilage. Crackers, cereal, and canned goods are frequently fine well past this date if the package is intact.

Use-by date

A use-by date is the last date recommended for peak quality on perishable products such as refrigerated meat and deli items. It is still not a hard “throw out at midnight” rule for most foods — storage temperature matters more than the printed date.

The exception is infant formula: do not use formula after its use-by date.

When the date does not matter as much

• Food has been kept at 40°F (4°C) or below continuously.
• The package is unopened and undamaged.
• There is no off smell, slime, mold, or unusual texture.

When to discard regardless of the date

• Perishable food left out more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F / 32°C).
• Bulging, leaking, or deeply dented cans.
• Visible mold on soft foods (bread, berries, soft cheese).
• Sour, rancid, or “off” smells on meat, dairy, or seafood.

Related on FoodLasts

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  Yogurt

Guides: How to tell if food is bad · The 2-hour rule