Most shoppers glance at an expiration date and assume it’s a strict deadline for safety. But “use by,” “sell by,” and “best by” dates can mean very different things — and misunderstanding them contributes to both unnecessary food waste and real food-poisoning risks . Understanding the difference can help protect your health while saving you money.

Contrary to common belief, many food products remain safe for days or even weeks beyond their labeled date. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) explains that most printed dates are about quality, not safety . “Best by” means the product may no longer taste its freshest after that date, but it’s not necessarily harmful.

Examples include:

Consumers can safely rely on sight and smell for these products — if there’s no odor, discoloration, o

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