Date labels on food products – “Best Before,” “Sell By,” “Use By,” “Expires On” – are intended to guide quality and safety. However, these labels are often misunderstood by consumers. This confusion can lead to unnecessary food waste or, conversely, feeling pressured by stores to buy items quickly. Stores use these dates for stock rotation, but their prominence can influence purchasing decisions in subtle ways. Understanding what these dates truly mean and how they affect store practices can help you shop smarter and avoid being unduly rushed. Here are 13 ways these best-before dates can impact your shopping.
1. “Best Before” Indicates Quality, Not Safety (Usually)
A “Best Before” or “Best if Used By” date is typically an indicator of peak quality as determined by the manufacturer. It suggests when the product will be at its freshest, most flavorful, or have the best texture. It is not a safety deadline for most shelf-stable or frozen products. Many foods are perfectly safe to eat well past this date, though their quality might gradually decline.
2. “Sell By” Dates Are for Store Stock Rotation
“Sell By” dates are primarily for retailers. They tell the store how long to display the product for sale. This helps with inventory management and ensures products are sold while still having a reasonable shelf life for the consumer at home. You should buy the product before this date, but it will still be good for some time after, if stored properly.
3. “Use By” Dates Are Often Safety-Related for Perishables
“Use By” dates are typically found on more perishable items like fresh meat, dairy, and ready-to-eat meals. This date is generally related to food safety. It’s usually recommended to consume the product by this date or freeze it. Adhering to “Use By” dates is more critical than “Best Before” dates for preventing foodborne illness.
4. Stores Placing Older Stock at the Front (“FIFO”)
Grocery stores use a “First In, First Out” (FIFO) stock rotation system. This means older products (those with earlier dates) are placed at the front of shelves or on top of stacks. Newer products are placed behind or beneath. This encourages the sale of older items first. Always check dates and consider reaching for items further back for a longer shelf life.
5. Clearance Markdowns for Near-Date Items
Items approaching their “Best Before” or “Sell By” date are often moved to a clearance section and heavily discounted. This is a store strategy to recoup some costs and reduce waste. These can be great bargains if you plan to use the item quickly or freeze it. However, don’t feel pressured to buy simply because it’s cheap if you won’t use it.
6. Consumer Perception That “Fresher is Always Better”
Many consumers are conditioned to seek out the absolute furthest expiration date possible, believing it guarantees superior quality or safety. While true for some highly perishable items, for many shelf-stable goods, a product a few weeks or even months shy of its “Best Before” date is virtually identical in quality to one with a date further out. This perception can lead to overlooking perfectly good, slightly older stock.
7. Feeling Rushed by “Quick Sale” Stickers
Stores often use bright “Reduced for Quick Sale” or “Manager’s Special” stickers on items nearing their expiration date. These highlight the discount but can also create a psychological pressure to buy immediately before the item “goes bad” or someone else snags it. Evaluate if you truly need it and can use it promptly.
8. Misinterpretation Leading to Premature Food Waste at Home
Misunderstanding date labels is a major contributor to household food waste. People often discard perfectly safe and edible food simply because it’s past the “Best Before” date, mistakenly believing it’s no longer safe. Educating yourself on what dates mean helps prevent this costly waste.
9. Store Promotions Tied to Shorter-Dated Stock
Sometimes, special sales or promotions might subtly feature products with shorter remaining shelf lives that the store wants to move quickly. The “deal” might be attractive, but check if the product’s date aligns with your planned usage to avoid it expiring before you can consume it.
10. Variability in Date Freshness Across Different Stores
The average freshness or remaining shelf life of products can vary between different grocery stores, depending on their turnover rates, stock management practices, and delivery schedules. A busy store might naturally have fresher overall stock than a slower one. This isn’t a “scam,” just an operational reality.
11. Impact on Highly Perishable Departments (Bakery, Deli)
For in-store bakery items or freshly sliced deli meats, date and time labels are critical. These products have a much shorter window of peak quality and safety. Stores use these to manage freshness, and consumers should pay close attention here, as these dates are more directly tied to immediate usability.
12. Pressure from Online Grocery Shoppers for Longest Dates
When using online grocery services, customers often implicitly expect personal shoppers to select items with the furthest possible expiration dates. This can put pressure on stores and shoppers to prioritize this, potentially leading to more handling of stock or overlooking items with perfectly adequate (though not maximum) shelf life for other customers.
13. The Subtlety of “Packed On” vs. “Best Before”
For some items like fresh meat, a “Packed On” date might be present alongside a “Sell By” or “Use By” date. Understanding both helps gauge true freshness. The “Packed On” date tells you when it was packaged, offering another layer of information beyond just the store’s recommended sale window.
Shop by Knowledge, Not Just by Date Pressure
Best-before dates labels on food are important guides, but they are not always absolute deadlines, especially “Best Before” dates. Understanding their true meanings helps you make informed decisions, reduce unnecessary food waste, and avoid feeling unduly pressured by store stock rotation practices. Use your senses (look, smell, and sometimes touch) to assess food quality alongside date labels for items past their “Best Before” date. Prioritize “Use By” dates for safety with perishables. By becoming a more knowledgeable consumer, you can navigate grocery store dates confidently and economically.
How do “Best Before” dates and other food labels influence your shopping decisions? Do you have tips for reducing food waste related to expiration dates? Share your thoughts below!
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The post Understanding ‘Best Before’ Dates: 13 Ways They Can Influence Your Grocery Shopping (And How Not to Be Rushed) appeared first on Grocery Coupon Guide.
