Date Labels Lead to Food Waste Despite Safety Beyond 'Best By'
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Date labels like "Best By" and "Best If Used By" indicate when a food's quality starts deteriorating, not when it expires or becomes unsafe.
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Food can still be safe to eat after the date if it was stored properly, shows no signs of spoilage, and smells/tastes normal.
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Signs a food has spoiled include off-odor, flavor, texture changes from bacteria growth. Spoiled food should not be eaten.
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Storing food properly per package guidance helps maximize freshness and quality over time. The FoodKeeper app provides storage advice.
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Date labels became common in the 1970s due to consumer interest in freshness. "Best By" and "Use By" are the labels now recommended by the FDA.