Environmental Nutrition: Understanding dates
Q: What’s the difference between expiration dates and “best by” or “sell by” dates?
A: The terms expiration date, “best by,” and “sell by” are often confused, but they do have different meanings and purposes.
Expiration: This is the last date the manufacturer recommends using the product for safety reasons.
Best By/Best Before: This date refers to quality, not safety.
Sell by: This tells retailers when the product should be sold or removed from shelves.
(Environmental Nutrition is the award-winning independent newsletter written by nutrition experts dedicated to providing readers up-to-date, accurate information about health and nutrition in clear, concise English. For more information, visit www.environmentalnutrition.com.)
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