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Understanding food expiration dates
Difference among 'sell by,' 'use by' and 'best by'
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Canned goods such as vegetables and soups have a longer shelf life and are marked with a “best by” phrase. A can of french-cut green beans are best by Aug. 23. 2014. A can of tomato soup is best by Aug. 15, 2015. - photo by J.K. Devine
Have you ever thrown out “expired” food just because the date stamped on food packages has past? Well, you, like many Americans, might misunderstand the meaning of the product stamp. The “sell by” date is aimed at the retailer, signaling to a grocery store when the product should be off the shelf.