Difference Between Use By Date and Sale By Date

Since we are not going to the store as much as we had been a few months ago, is there food going bad in your house? Are you tossing foods because there is a day on the package that is today or yesterday? What is the difference between 'Best By Date' and 'Sale By Date?' Is the food still good? Will it make you sick if you consume it?

With a little help from the website Imperfect Foods, here is what those phrases mean:

• “Best if used by” and “best before” indicate when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It’s not a purchase or food safety date.
• A “sell by” date tells the store how long to display the product for. It’s not a food safety date.
• A “use by” date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It’s not a food safety date, except for when used on infant formula.

Now, will these things make you sick if you consume them after whatever that date is on the package? For most items, yes, you can eat them and nothing will happen to you. However, if you don't think that the food smells right or looks right, toss it. If you even think that something just doesn't pass the nose or the smell test, toss it out!

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