What do food date labels mean in the US?
For ordinary US foods, printed dates are generally about quality or inventory—not an automatic federal safety cutoff. Storage and handling still determine whether food is safe.
Official sources checked September 13, 2026 Based on official US food-safety guidance Independent site
Common US date labels
USDA’s food product dating guidance defines the common phrases as follows.
Best If Used By, Best By and Best Before
This indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
Sell By
This tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date.
Use By
This is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. For ordinary US foods it is a quality recommendation, and it is not a safety date except when used on infant formula.
Freeze By
This indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
A date alone does not prove that ordinary food is safe or unsafe. Product instructions, storage temperature and handling remain important.
Dates are not required by federal law
Apart from infant formula, product dating is not required by federal regulations. The FDA says the same thing: manufacturers are not required by federal law or regulation to place quality-based date labels on packaged food, other than on infant formula. The FDA also notes that consumers may see different phrases on different products, and that “Best if Used By” is the standard phrase for the date when a product will be at its best flavor and quality.
What about food past its date?
USDA says a product should still be safe and wholesome if handled properly until the time spoilage is evident. If a food has developed spoilage characteristics, it should not be eaten. The FDA suggests that if a product has changed noticeably in color, consistency or texture, you may want to avoid eating it.
In other words, the label tells you about expected quality, while the condition of the food and how it was stored tell you more about safety.
Handling matters more than the date
A date on the package does not cancel the time-and-temperature rules. USDA gives the example of cold chicken salad at a picnic: if it has been left out at temperatures above 40°F for more than 2 hours, it should not be eaten, whatever the label says. The same logic applies to leftovers and refrigerated food at home, so see how long leftovers can sit out and how long leftovers last in the fridge.
The infant-formula exception
Infant formula is different: federal rules require a Use By date, and formula should not be used after that date. This exception does not turn every baby-food or ordinary-food date into a federal safety deadline.
The FDA explains that the manufacturer guarantees the nutrient content and quality of the formula only up to the Use By date, and that FDA rules require the date on every container. If you buy formula by the case, it advises making sure the lot numbers and Use By dates on the containers and boxes match.
Examples
A sealed packet of dry goods that is a few weeks past its Best By date has passed its quality date, not a federal safety deadline. Check the packet for storage instructions, and look at the food itself for signs that it has changed.
A tub of chicken salad that has sat on a picnic table all afternoon is a handling problem, whatever the date says.
A tin of infant formula past its Use By date should not be used.
How this differs from the UK
In the UK, a use-by date is a safety date, which is a firmer rule than the quality-based approach used for ordinary US foods. Read the UK versus US date label comparison to see the labels side by side.
Common questions
Does Sell By mean I must eat the food by then?
No. Sell By is information for the store about how long to display the product, and it is not a safety date.
Is a Use By date a safety deadline?
For ordinary US foods it is a quality recommendation, not automatically a federal safety cutoff. Infant formula is the exception.
Can I eat food after the Best By date?
The date is about quality. Food handled properly can still be safe, but if it shows signs of spoilage it should not be eaten.
Use the right next step
The checker has a supported US date-label flow for ordinary products and the infant-formula exception. If the food needs refrigeration, its storage and handling may matter more than the printed date alone.
Looking for UK guidance? Read Use-by vs best-before. For supported refrigerated leftovers, see US leftovers in the fridge guidance.
Use the checker for your situation
This page explains general US federal guidance. Check your food using the relevant supported situation.
Sources and scope
Last checked: September 13, 2026.
This resource is based on United States federal guidance for the situations described. It does not replace the checker’s questions or food-specific storage instructions.
Safe to Eat? is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the authorities cited above.