Understanding Food Expiration Dates
<p></p> <img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dcr-apis/wp_contents/uploads/DCR-ADMIN/food.jpeg" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/> <p></p> <p>If you’re confused about the expiration dates on food labels, you have a lot of company. Apparently, there are around 50 variations of date labels. “Sell by,” “use by” and “packaged on” are the most common, but do you know what they actually mean?</p> <p>Many people throw away food that’s still safe to eat (43% according to a 2025 survey) because they don’t realize that most date labels tell you when the food tastes best, not whether you’ll get sick from eating it. To add to the confusion, some states have their own versions of food labeling laws for particular products.</p> <p>The most important labels to pay attention to are those that say, “use by” or “expires on.” You’ll see them on perishables like meat, seafood, and unpasteurized cheese and milk. Here are some general rules of thumb: Eggs will last three to five weeks in the fridge, frozen foods should be eaten within a year and chicken should be cooked within one to two days of purchase. Also, don’t forget that your nose is useful when deciding if an item can be eaten or should be thrown away. </p> <p><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/" target="_self">Use Diamond Certified Resource to find top rated companies.</a></p> <p><strong>Related Articles</strong><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/Guide/General-Health-Wellness/" target="_self">The Essential Guide to General Health & Wellness Services</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Get Expert Advice From Owners of Top Rated Local Companies</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/membership/" target="_self">Become a Diamond Certified Preferred Member (Always Free)</a> </p>
