Have you ever opened up an old food package and wondered, “Is this safe to eat?” Best If Used By, Sell By, and Use By dates can be confusing so let’s break it down.

Best If Used By: This is the last date when the product is guaranteed to be fresh. For example, pretzels should still be crispy.

Use By: This is different from the "Best If Used By” date, as this is the last date that guarantees the food quality. Consider this a quality concern rather than a safety concern. The exception is infant formula which should never be used past a “Use By” date. 

Sell By: This date helps retailers get food to the customers while it’s still at its best quality. As a customer, you can still expect your product to be fresh until this date, or even a few days after.

SHOPPING TIP: Items often get marked down when they hit their “Sell By” date at certain stores.

Foods with past dated “sell by” or “use by” dates may still be okay to eat if they have been stored correctly, the package is intact, and there are no smells, mold, or other signs of spoilage. When in doubt, throw it out!