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Food safety experts say a best-by date generally concerns freshness and quality, while a sell-by date is aimed at retailers; neither should be treated as a universal safety test. Storage, packaging condition and the type of food matter, and infant formula and perishable foods need particular care.
A Good Housekeeping report featuring food safety and nutrition experts says a best-by date generally marks freshness, not an automatic point when food becomes unsafe. The guidance matters for households deciding whether to discard food, but experts caution that the label alone cannot establish safety: food type, storage, packaging and signs of spoilage all count.
Food labels use different terms for different purposes. Food safety and policy expert Dr. Darin Detwiler says a sell-by date is about retail stock rotation. A best-by date signals when a product may begin to lose freshness. The report describes use-by and freeze-by dates as safety-related under the legislation it references, but it does not specify which law or jurisdiction that statement applies to. Consumers should check the meaning of labels under applicable local guidance rather than assume every date works the same way.
Many shelf-stable foods—including dry grains, bottled products and some canned goods—may remain safe past a best-by date if stored appropriately and the packaging is intact, according to the report. Good Housekeeping Chief Food Director Kate Merker advises skipping cans that are dented, rusty or bulging. Food past its date can still have diminished taste or texture, and frozen food’s quality may decline over time even when it has remained frozen.
Nutrition Director Stefani Sassos recommends checking for mold and other visible changes, as well as unusual odors, flavors or textures. The report stresses that safe storage and handling affect how quickly food spoils. It also singles out infant formula as a product for which the date should not be ignored and advises close attention to meat, poultry and dairy, including discoloration, off odors or a slimy texture.
How Date Labels Affect Food Waste
The report connects label confusion with food waste: it cites an estimate of nearly 120 billion pounds of food wasted each year in the United States and a ReFED study finding that confusion about packaging labels may account for up to 7% of U.S. food waste. These figures describe different measures; the cited material does not provide a study year or additional methodology. The report’s practical point is that understanding what a date means may help consumers avoid throwing out food that remains safe.
At the same time, interpreting a best-by date as a guarantee of safety would also be a mistake. The date is only one piece of information. Perishable products, damaged packaging and improper storage call for more caution, while a food’s quality can decline even if it remains safe to eat. That distinction helps explain why one rule cannot cover every item in a pantry or refrigerator.
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California Moves Against Sell-By Labels
The report says California became the first state to ban sell-by dates on most food packaging, with the stated aim of reducing food waste. It also says other states have introduced bills or similar initiatives to simplify date labels. The supplied material does not identify the California law’s effective date or describe the precise labeling rules, so the policy should not be read as a nationwide change.
The issue arises because sell-by dates are intended for retailers, yet shoppers may interpret them as a deadline for eating food. Experts interviewed by Good Housekeeping distinguish that retail instruction from a best-by date, which concerns freshness, and stress that neither replaces proper food handling or a product-specific safety check.
““It’s most important to use common sense and check for signs of spoilage.””
— Stefani Sassos, Good Housekeeping nutrition director
Labels Cannot Settle Every Safety Question
The report does not give a universal time limit for eating particular foods after a best-by date. It also does not provide detailed storage temperatures, product-specific instructions or a complete list of foods that should be discarded on a certain date. Because food type and storage conditions vary, the general guidance cannot confirm that an individual item is safe.
The source notes that use-by and freeze-by dates indicate safety dates under legislation, but does not identify the jurisdiction or explain how those terms are regulated. Nor does it establish how much nutrition a specific food loses over time. Sassos says changes depend on the food and how it is stored. Readers should follow product directions and applicable food-safety advice, and discard food when its condition raises concerns.
Check Labels, Storage and Condition
For consumers, the immediate next step is to read the label carefully, identify whether it says sell-by, best-by or another term, and consider the product and its storage history. Inspect packaging before using canned goods, and check for mold, unusual odors, discoloration or altered texture. The experts’ advice does not replace product instructions or food-safety guidance for specific foods.
The report says other states are pursuing date-label changes, but it provides no named proposals, legislative status or timetable. Further details about those initiatives—and the scope and implementation of California’s policy—remain dependent on information from state officials and lawmakers.
Key Questions
Does a best-by date mean food is unsafe after that day?
Not necessarily. The report says a best-by date generally indicates when freshness may begin to decline. Safety also depends on the food, packaging and storage, so the date alone cannot confirm whether an item is safe.
What does a sell-by date mean?
Food safety expert Darin Detwiler says it is a retail stock-rotation date. It is not described in the report as a direct consumer safety cutoff.
What signs of spoilage should I check?
Look for mold, unusual smells, discoloration and changed texture; the report also mentions off flavors. Do not use a can that is dented, rusty or bulging, Merker advises.
Are any foods singled out for extra caution?
Sassos says not to ignore the date on infant formula. The report also advises paying close attention to meat, poultry and dairy and checking for signs of spoilage.
Can food lose quality or nutrients after its date?
Yes. The report says taste and texture can decline, including for frozen foods over time. Sassos says nutritional changes depend on the food and its storage, and that exposure to air and light may reduce some nutritional benefits.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
