Open Dating (use of a calendar date as opposed to a code) on a food product is a date stamped on a products package to help the store determine how long to display the product for sale. It can also help the purchaser to know the time limit to purchase or use the product at its best quality. It is not a safety date.

What does an open date on a label mean?

Open dates are calendar dates that are imprinted or stamped on a food label that indicate to the consumer the freshness and safety of the product. Open dates are stated alpha-numerically (eg, Oct 15) or numerically (eg, 10-15 or 1015).

Can I eat meat past the sell-by date?

For sell-by dates that go past at home, you can continue to store the food for a short amount of time depending on what it is. Some common products are: ground meat and poultry (1-2 days past the date), beef (3-5 days past the date), eggs (3-5 weeks past the date). If youre concerned about food safety, use your nose.

Is it OK to cook meat after the use by date?

Often, you can still use the meat after that date, though it may not taste as good. As a general rule, refrigerated meat should be cooked within a few days of purchase. The exception is ground meat, which has a shorter shelf life and should be stored for only 1-2 days.

Is it expired if it says sell by?

So what do these terms mean for consumers? * Expiration Date: If you have a product with an expired expiration date, throw it out. *Sell-By date: Many fresh or prepared foods are labeled with a “Sell-By” date as a guide for how long the item should be displayed for sale before quality deteriorates.