With the holiday season fast approaching, a lot of consumers have probably already started their grocery shopping.
But while checking the food items you purchased, you might have noticed their packaging featuring different kinds of date labels.
Generally, grocery items, especially canned goods, come with a "sell by" or "best used by" dates. Although some people might think that these labels pertain to the expiration period of food items, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that these are only suggestions regarding the storage of the products, ABC News reported.
Specifically, the "sell by" labels are actually guidelines for the store, supermarket or grocery. The dates indicated in these labels are included to inform the establishments how long they should display these items.
The "best if used by" label, on the other hand, is a recommendation for the consumers. Going beyond the specified date of this label does not automatically mean that the food is already spoiled. Instead, it refers to the quality or flavor of the item.
As noted by the USDA, it is still safe to consume items that are past their "best is used by" date. However, with each passing day, consumers might begin to notice that the flavor of the food is beginning to lessen.
As for the "use by" date, this is determined by product's manufacturer to indicate the peak quality of the item.
"Except for 'useby' dates, product dates don't always pertain to home storage and use after purchase," the USDA said in new Food Safety Information report. "'Use by' dates usually refer to the best quality and are not safety dates. Even if the date expires during home storage, a product should be safe, wholesome and of good quality if handled properly."
Of course, even though these kinds of labels are not strict indicators of a item's expiration, the USDA recommends that people should still follow proper storage and purchasing guidelines to avoid food-related problems that could affect their health.
As noted by the agency, consumers should only purchase and consume items before their indicated dates. It is also very important to keep perishable items inside a refrigerator's freezer to keep them fresh. According to the agency, even if these items go beyond their labels' dates, they are still safe to eat as long as they are frozen during storage.
Another way for shoppers to ensure that the food items that they eat are always fresh is by only purchasing what they will be able to consume during a certain period. Stockpiling grocery items at home is not always a good idea as it could lead to spoilage and improper storage.
