What Is an Expiration Date?

What Is an Expiration Date?

Let me explain what an expiration date really means. It's the last day a consumable product, like food or medicine, is guaranteed by the manufacturer to be at its peak quality. You need to know there are key differences between these dates on food and on medicine.

For food products—except infant formula—expiration dates aren't required by federal law. These dates typically signal when the food will keep its best taste and texture. Remember, it's about quality assurance, not safety.

On the other hand, expiration dates on prescription and over-the-counter drugs are required by federal law. They mark the period where the product is guaranteed safe and effective, based on the manufacturer's testing.

Key Takeaways

Here's what you should remember: Expiration dates on food aren't federally required except for infant formula, and they indicate how long the product retains freshness and quality. Most perishable foods remain good well beyond 'sell by' or 'use by' dates. For drugs, both prescription and non-prescription, expiration dates are mandatory, showing how long the manufacturer guarantees safety and effectiveness from their testing.

How Expiration Dates Work

You might see various dates on products: 'sell by,' 'use by,' 'best by,' or 'do not use after.' They mean different things, but only 'do not use after' is a strict warning to discard the product because it could become unsafe or ineffective.

The 'sell by' date guides store clerks on when to pull items from shelves. 'Use by' tells you when quality might drop. 'Best by' suggests when taste or texture could decline. Federal law doesn't require these on most foods, only on infant formula, and the USDA offers limited guidance.

The USDA points out that about 30% of U.S. food is wasted, often because people throw out still-good items based on labels. I recommend using a smell or taste test to check edibility—it's often more reliable than the date.

Food Expiration Dates

These dates started appearing in the 1970s due to consumer demands for assurances on packaged foods. Some complain they're set inaccurately to encourage replacing still-good products. Many states require them, so producers mark items routinely, but they're ambiguous compared to medicine dates.

Open dating uses a calendar date to show when quality is best guaranteed. Closed dating is a code with letters and numbers for manufacturers to track processing.

The FSIS: Watchdog for Meat, Poultry, and Eggs

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), part of the USDA, ensures meat, poultry, and eggs are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled. Manufacturers aren't required to add expiration dates, but if they do, labels must be truthful. Dates need to include month and day, with year for shelf-stable or frozen items, explained by phrases like 'best if used by.'

Date-Labeling Phrases for Food Products

There's no standard phrasing for food labels in the U.S. Producers use various terms: 'Best if used by/before' means after this, flavor or quality might drop. 'Sell by' is for stores to remove items, but the product is good afterward. 'Use by' is the last day for peak quality, not safety except on infant formula. 'Freeze by' is when to freeze for best quality. 'Expires on/do not use after' truly means the product might be ineffective post-date, like on cake mix.

How Food Manufacturers Decide Quality Dates

Manufacturers set these dates considering storage time, temperature during transit and sale, food characteristics, and packaging. This determines how long the product stays at optimum quality.

Food Safety Tips

The date on perishable food indicates how long it's been stored, suggesting it may or may not be at its best post-date. With proper handling, it often has shelf life left. Always check for spoilage by looking, smelling, tasting, or touching before discarding.

The USDA has a food storage safety chart for items from sauerkraut to egg whites—use it as a guide.

Medication Expiration Dates

Federal rules require date stamps on prescription medicines. Over-the-counter ones like aspirin or cough syrup often have 'EXP' followed by month and year, marking when the manufacturer no longer guarantees potency or effectiveness.

This date reflects testing where the drug is safe and stable. The manufacturer is liable only until the package is opened, not until contents are used.

Expiration Date Mandate

Foods show spoilage through appearance, smell, or taste, but for drugs, the expiration date is the key indicator of safety and effectiveness. The FDA mandated these dates in the 1970s for all prescription and OTC products, often marked 'EXP' on labels or packaging.

Stick to these dates because drugs can change chemically, becoming less potent or harmful. The FDA might extend dates during shortages based on stability data. Even small amounts can be fatal to kids or pets, so dispose properly when expired.

Discarding Expired Medications

Don't just trash expired meds—check packaging for instructions or local take-back programs. Federal guidelines suggest mixing them with coffee grounds or kitty litter in a container, or flushing some types.

Expiration Dates for Prescription Drug Patents

Separately, expiration dates apply to drug patents. The U.S. Patent Office gives pharma companies patents for new drugs, protecting them from copies—usually 20 years, seven for orphan drugs, five for new chemicals. The FDA's Orange Book lists approved drugs with patent expirations. Generic makers must certify they won't launch until patents expire or are invalid under the Hatch-Waxman Act.

Is It Okay to Use Some Medicines After Their Expiration Dates?

No, don't use medicine past its expiration—it's not guaranteed safe or effective per the FDA. Store them properly in a cool, dry place to last until the date.

How Long Can You Eat Food Past Its Expiration Date?

From the USDA: Canned goods last years if unopened and undamaged, ignoring 'best by' dates. Packaged foods like cereals and pasta are safe past dates but might taste off. Frozen meat keeps for months without safety issues, though flavor may fade—bacteria don't grow in freezers.

Can You Eat Expired Food If It Hasn't Been Opened?

Dates like 'use by' or 'best by' apply to unopened products, which are often good afterward if sealed. Test by looking, sniffing, or tasting before tossing. Nonperishables like cans or pasta last well past dates; for perishables like meat or dairy, a sniff test beats the label.

The Bottom Line

Expiration dates on food and drugs protect your benefit and safety. Food dates emphasize quality over safety, while drug dates focus on effectiveness and safety. Always check dates and discard if something seems off post-expiration.