Understanding Food Labeling Dates

Not only is product dating confusing, most retails do not keep accurate records indicating when product was actually cooked or prepared. Not to mention if sanitation practices are being followed (that is a whole other issue) I have witnessed many times standing in front of a ready to eat food counter asking the attended behind the counter when the lasagna was prepared only to witness them yelling back the kitchen worker “hey when was the lasagna made” the kitchen worker replying I think a couple of days ago not really sure I was of couple of days“. I am all for buying a ready to eat meals and just heating up and serving. As retail stores grow it is a great service for people who don’t want to cook a meal for whatever reason.

Most ready to eat (cooked foods) have a seven day shelf life and most health regulatory agency have systems in place to assure that those systems are followed.

The seven day rule. Meaning is basically once a product is cooked and ready to eat that product is good for up to seven days after the date product was prepared assuming safe handling and storage procedures are followed.

One key note is let’s say a food service worker cooks chicken to be used for chicken salad on Monday the chicken was cooked , cooled , and stored correctly for three days, on Wed. the cooked chicken is cut up and preparation for the chicken salad is taking place, once the chicken salad is ready to eat, or ready to be packaged the date most retails use would be seven days after the product is ready for consumption,

However that is not correct dating method the correct dating would be seven days from the date the chicken was cooked, meaning after chicken salad was packaged or sold for consumption that would only leave two days to sell or consume the chicken salad.This brings me to the next point, most retailer use outside companies products that they bring in and package as their brand with their labeling on it( Again this could be a whole other issue).The company that manufactures the product by law has to have that product dated with the manufacturing date and the date the product is to be used by. Example of this is a retail store orders spinach dip from an outside source the product is received by the retail store on Monday 7/01/2009 with a use by date stamped on the product box of 7/07/2009. The box is opened by a worker on 7/07/2009 and packaged in containers for sale the worker places a label on the container of product “use by 7/14/2009 consumer by the packaged spinach dip on 7/13/2009 see the problem? we need to also be concerned with several other issues like was the product produced at the manufacture correctly, was the product received at the correctly, did the retail handle the product correctly.

This brings us to terminology. The actual term "Expiration Date" refers to the last date a food should be eaten or used. “Last means last” proceed at your own risk.

· "Sell by" date. The labeling "sell by" tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires. This is basically a guide for the retailer, so the store knows when to pull the item. This is not mandatory, so reach in back and get the freshest. The issue is quality of the item (freshness, taste, and consistency) rather than whether it is on the verge of spoiling. "sell by" date is the last day the item is at its highest level of quality, but it will still be edible for some time after.

· "Best if used by (or before)" date. This refers strictly to quality, not safety. This date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety.

· "Use by" date. This is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product. Again this date is done by the manufacturers, retailers repackage the product and place their own label and date on it.

The bottom line to get the best quality product when shopping in you r favorite grocery store is to pay attention to the product if it doesn’t look fresh, smell fresh don’t buy it. Ask question the majority of the time products that are package for sale. The freshest is most likely not packaged for sale yet so ask if they can package product from the back, there is most often packaged items in the back coolers not yet labeled for sale out on the retail floor. The same applies to ready to eat food in display cases if it doesn’t look fresh it isn’t fresh, if a worker behind the counter can’t tell you when a product was cooked or made than chances are you wasting your time and money.

One last thought there are many retail grocery stores that do a good job in dating products and keeping things fresh, to avoid unhappy shoppers or worst making consumers sick. Keep in mind retail store do not have the same health regulation standards as restaurants and monitoring dating of product is a difficult procedure for most retail stores.Best advance is as always buyers beware. Keep in mind you’re the customer and if you want the freshest best product they say so.