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How to Tell Whether Expired Food Is Safe to Eat - Consumer Reports
- Best if Used By/Before. This guarantees when a product is of the best quality or flavor. For instance, a jar of salsa may not taste as fresh or crackers may be soft instead of crisp after this date. It's not about safety.
- Sell By. This is the date set by manufacturers to tell retailers when to remove the product from shelves. The goal is to ensure that the consumer has the product at its best quality, which can be several days to several weeks, depending on the item. For instance, milk, assuming proper refrigeration, should last five to seven days past its sell-by date before turning sour.
- Use By. This is the last date that guarantees the best quality of a product. This is also not a safety date except when used on infant formula.