Sell by date
Tells the store how long to display the product, not how long it is safe.
It is unwise to buy foods left out past those dates
Best-if Used-by (or before) Dates
Indicates how long the product will retain flavor & quality, not safety
Use-by Date
Is the last date the manufacturer recommends using the product but also usually refers to quality, not safety
When in doubt, throw it out!
Source: USDA fact sheet, “Food Product Dating” at www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets
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