'sell by' and 'use by'
For more information on food dating and safety, go to the following Web
page: www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/FAQ/hotlinefaqindex.htm.
Recipe Link: By LOUISE OWENS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News List of Ingredients
These "use before" and "sell by" and "best if used by" dates on foods should
make life simpler. But they seem to add another layer of confusion.
Does a "sell by" date mean you must consume it by then? Will something
self-destruct if not eaten before the "use by" date? What's the difference
between "sell by" and "best if used by"?
Two categories of dates appear on food labels: "open dating," which is used
mostly on perishable foods such as meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products,
and "closed" or "coded" dating, which is used on items like boxed cereals
and canned vegetables.
According to the USDA, except for infant formula and some baby foods, food
dating is not required by federal regulations. But if a manufacturer uses an
open date, it must be accompanied by one of the following phrases:
"Sell by" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You
should buy the product before the date.
"Best if used by" (or "before") date is recommended for the best flavor or
quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
"Use by" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product. After
the date, the product should be discarded. The date is set by the
manufacturer. How do consumers use these dates?
"A lot of it is common sense, and a lot depends on how you handle it," says
Mary Kimbrough, registered dietitian and director of nutrition services at
Zale Lipshy University Hospital in Dallas. "Treat your groceries with
respect; don't leave them in the car while you run another 50 errands. Put
things in the refrigerator as soon as you get home. If you aren't going to
cook fresh meat or poultry in the next three days, put it in the freezer."
Dr. Vickie Vaclavik - registered dietitian, author of the Essentials of Food
Science textbook and an instructor at the University of Texas Southwestern
Clinical Nutrition Program - also offered advice on using dates with various
foods:
Milk: The "sell by" date is the last day the milk may be sold as fresh. With
proper refrigeration, it can last up to 10 days beyond that date. The shelf
life is the same for whole, 2 percent, 1 percent or skim milk.
Bread: A "best if used by" or freshness date is the latest date the baker
recommends eating for optimum flavor. After that date, the quality and
flavor may deteriorate, but it won't hurt you to eat it.
Cheese: The "sell by" date is the last date a cheese may be sold as fresh.
"Cheese keeps a long time, especially if minimally touched or minimally
exposed to airborne substances," says Dr. Vaclavik. "Wrap cheese tightly and
keep refrigerated. Soft cheese contains more water than dry cheese. The
shelf life is thus shorter. If it develops a black, blue or white fuzzy
mold, cut off an inch deeper than what you see."
Fresh meat and poultry: The "sell by" date is the last date the meat may be
sold as fresh. The package may not tell you that you need to cook within
three days.
"Meat has gone bad when the pigments change from red, oxygenated pigment to
metmyoglobin, a brownish color and beyond that to dark purples, greens and
blacks in red meat," says Dr. Vaclavik.
"Chicken will turn a greenish or purplish color. The more processed and
cut-up a meat is, the more the meat surfaces are exposed to bacteria," adds
Dr. Vaclavik.
Lunch and deli meats: The "sell by" date is the last date lunch and deli
meats can be sold as fresh. Off colors, odors or a slimy surface indicate
the growth of bacteria, and the meats should be tossed.
"The less you handle them, the better; use a clean fork each time to get
them out of the package," advises Ms. Kimbrough.
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