Grocery costs continue to rise nationwide in tandem with inflation. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) notes, food prices were more than 10 percent higher in June 2022 than in June 2021, leading to spikes in price tags on foods like bread, eggs, and meat.
Best if Used By/Before
If your food has a “best if used by/before” label, this notes when a product will be of the highest quality or flavor, per the agency, and does not mean it’s no longer safe to consume after that date (it might just not taste as good). This label is used for all food categories, including frozen, refrigerated, canned, and boxed products.
Use By
A use-by date is “the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality,” according to FSIS. Like the above labels, it does not mean the food is no longer safe to consume after that date, except in the case of baby formula (more on that below). This label is typically reserved for foods that are highly perishable, like meat, dairy products, and ready-to-eat items.
Sell By
A food product’s sell-by date refers to how long it should be on sale in stores and is for inventory management. You can still consume food after this date.
