“Sell by” date: Used by manufacturers to remind grocers when to remove products from shelves.“Best if used by” or “Use by” date: Refers to the flavor or quality, not food safety. Past that date, the taste and nutrient content may have diminished, but it may still be edible.(Note: The use by date on infant formula and some baby food is set by the federal government and refers to the period in which the product must contain the full amount of nutrients described on the label.)“Expires by” or “Expiration date”: You should throw the product out past that date. No wiggle room.“Pack date”: A code on cans and boxed foods indicating when the product was packed. It can be hard to decipher, but you can usually at least pick out a year.
