Sell By vs Use By vs Best Before: What Each Date Label Actually Means

Sell By: A Store Inventory Tool, Not a Safety Deadline

The sell by date tells the retailer how long to display a product on the shelf. It is a stock-rotation tool, not a safety warning. Stores use it to manage inventory and ensure products are fresh when you buy them.

For most foods, the sell by date is not tied to spoilage. Milk, yogurt, and eggs are usually safe for several days past the sell by date if refrigerated properly. The date simply marks the end of the store's display period.

When you bring food home, the sell by date becomes less relevant. What matters is how long the item has been in your refrigerator and whether it shows signs of spoilage. Trust your senses over the calendar for most products.

In short: sell by is about the store, not you. You can often buy food after the sell by date has passed, and you can usually consume it safely for a few days after, provided it has been handled correctly.

Use By: The Only Date That Is a True Safety Marker

The use by date is the last day the manufacturer guarantees the product is at its best quality and, for perishable items, safe to consume. It appears on products like deli meats, dairy, and ready-to-eat meals where bacterial growth is a real risk.

After the use by date, the risk of foodborne illness increases, especially for vulnerable groups like pregnant people, young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. The USDA recommends discarding food past its use by date, even if it looks and smells fine.

Unlike sell by dates, use by dates are not flexible. If a product is past its use by date, do not taste it to check for safety. The bacteria that cause illness often do not change the look, smell, or taste of food.

When in doubt, throw it out. The cost of a wasted product is far less than a trip to the hospital.

Best Before: A Quality Date, Not a Safety Date

Best before dates indicate when a product will be at its peak flavor, texture, and nutritional value. After this date, the food may be less fresh but is generally still safe to eat, provided it has been stored correctly and the packaging is intact.

This label appears on shelf-stable items like canned goods, pasta, cereal, and spices. A can of soup past its best before date may taste slightly dull, but it will not make you sick. Dry goods may lose crispness or aroma but remain edible for months or even years.

The exception is when a best before date appears on a product that also requires refrigeration after opening, such as some condiments. In that case, follow the storage instructions on the label, not just the date.

For best before products, the question is not 'Is it safe?' but 'Will I enjoy it?' If the food looks, smells, and tastes normal, it is fine to use.

Key Differences at a Glance: A Quick Reference

The three labels serve different purposes, and confusing them leads to either wasted food or unnecessary risk. Here is a quick comparison to keep in mind when you are sorting through your pantry and fridge.

Sell by is for retailers. Use by is for consumers and indicates safety for perishables. Best before is for consumers and indicates quality for shelf-stable items. Remembering that one sentence clears up most confusion.

When you see a date on a package, ask yourself: Is this a perishable item that can harbor harmful bacteria? If yes, treat a use by date as a hard deadline. If no, treat a best before date as a suggestion.

• Sell by: ignore once you buy; use your senses for a few days after.
• Use by: follow strictly for perishables; do not consume after the date.
• Best before: safe after the date; quality may decline.

When Each Date Matters Most: Practical Scenarios

The importance of each date depends on the food type and how you plan to use it. For raw meat, poultry, and seafood, the sell by date is the last day you should buy the product, and you should cook or freeze it within a day or two of purchase.

For dairy and eggs, sell by dates are conservative. Milk often stays fresh several days past the date if kept cold. Eggs can last three to five weeks after the sell by date. The use by date on ready-to-eat salads or deli meats is more critical because these foods are eaten without cooking.

Best before dates on dry goods like flour, rice, and baking mixes matter for quality. Old flour may develop off-flavors or attract pantry pests, but it will not cause food poisoning. For baby formula and infant food, however, the use by date is a strict safety deadline and should never be ignored.

If you are unsure about a product, check for signs of spoilage: off odors, sliminess, mold, or bulging cans. When in doubt, discard. The USDA's FoodKeeper app offers specific storage timelines for hundreds of foods.