The Secret Language of Food Labels: Decoding Expire Date

Have you ever seen the combination of numbers, letters, and dates in a product or packaging? These codes are known as expiry dates (sometimes written as “expire date”), which indicate until when the product is guaranteed safe, effective, or of best quality.

It is a crucial piece of information found on packaged products, indicating the date until which the product is guaranteed to be safe and effective for use by the customers.

Distinguishing Between “Sell By” and “Use By” Dates

Understanding expiration dates is essential for consumers to ensure they consume products within a safe timeframe. However, there are several types of expiry dates commonly found on product labels, each serving a distinct purpose. For instance, imported products in Indonesia often use English terms like ‘Best Before’ or ‘Use By’, while local regulations from BPOM require the phrase ‘Tanggal Kedaluwarsa’. Understanding these differences prevents consumers from discarding safe food too early. Here are two of the most common types:

“Sell By” Date

The “Sell By” date serves as a directive for retailers, indicating the last date by which the product should be displayed for sale. This means it’s not an indication of food safety but rather a marker of freshness.

When you spot a product nearing its “Sell By” date on store shelves, you might encounter enticing discounts as retailers aim to clear space for incoming stock.

However, don’t be too quick to dismiss these items from your shopping list. In many cases, foods labeled with a “Sell By” date remain perfectly safe for consumption beyond this date, because this code doesn’t always indicate the actual expiry date or food safety limit.

The products may experience slight changes in texture, color, or aroma over time, but these alterations are often negligible. In this case, just trust your senses. If the product still looks and smells fine, it’s likely still good to eat.

“Use By” Date

In contrast to the “Sell By” date, the “Use By” date represents the manufacturer’s recommendation for the last date of optimal quality and safety.

While exceeding this date doesn’t necessarily render the product immediately unsafe, it may signify a decline in quality over time.

However, many foods labeled with a “Use By” date remain suitable for consumption beyond this threshold, especially if stored properly.

It’s wise to adhere to this date for optimal enjoyment, but exercising discretion based on sensory cues can extend the lifespan of many items. As with the “Sell By” date, visual or odor cues (looks normal, smells fresh) can help. However, for high-risk items such as dairy, meat, and ready-to-eat meals, it is strongly recommended not to consume them once the “Use By” date has passed to avoid potential health risks.

Besides the “Sell By” and “Use By” dates, there are other types of expire date writing formats, such as:

Best Before Date

This date suggests that the product will have the best flavor or quality before the listed date, especially if the package remains unopened.

After this date, there may be some changes in texture, color, or odor, but the product is generally still safe to consume. So, it is more about quality rather than safety.

Expires on Date

Commonly found in infant formula and baby food, this date is mandated by the federal government. It’s a strict guideline, and consumers should use the product before this date to ensure safety.

Pack Date

These dates are commonly found on canned products, frozen foods, or other non-perishable items. These codes help in indicating when the product was packaged or manufactured. So, it does not necessarily indicate expire date. Regulatory requirements vary by country. In Indonesia, for example, BPOM mandates that all processed foods display a clear ‘Tanggal Kedaluwarsa’ label. Meanwhile, ‘Best Before’ is more common on imported products such as snacks, cereals, or instant foods.

Read About: The Primacy of Powerful Expiry Date Printer from Linx

Additional Considerations for Food Safety Assessment

While most consumers are familiar with expiration date terms like “Sell By”, “Use By”, “Best Before”, or others like those explained above,  there are additional considerations that play a significant role in assessing food safety. Some of them include:

Storage Conditions

One key factor to consider is storage conditions. Even if a product hasn’t reached its expiration date, improper storage can lead to spoilage and compromise safety.

For example, perishable items like dairy, seafood, and meat should always be stored in the refrigerator at or below 40°F (4°C) to slow bacterial growth and extend their shelf life.

Packaging Integrity

Moreover, it’s essential to pay attention to packaging integrity. Damaged or compromised packaging can allow contaminants to enter.

Any damages will increase the risk of foodborne illness. So, inspecting packages for signs of damage before purchase can help mitigate this risk. Cross-contamination is another risk. For instance, storing raw meat together with ready-to-eat products can spread bacteria and cause spoilage more quickly.

However, when you’re in doubt, just throw the products out. You might feel disappointed to discard that pricey, fancy cheese you bought, but safety always comes first. If it looks strange, smells unusual, or tastes even slightly off, dispose of it without hesitation.

Utilizing Expiry Dates for Informed Consumer Choices

Overall, understanding and utilizing expire date labels can help consumers minimize food waste while ensuring their safety. By knowing the label’s meaning, consumers can confidently make decisions about when to use products and when it’s time to discard them.

Therefore, individuals can confidently assess the quality and safety of food items, thereby reducing the risk of foodborne illness and minimizing waste. For more insights into how reliable coding technology supports food businesses, you can also read our articles on Thermal Inkjet Printers for Food Labeling and Batch Coding Solutions, which explain how advanced printers ensure accurate expiry date marking.

The Importance of Eradicating Uncertainty

Uncertainty regarding expiration dates can lead to unnecessary food wastage. Many consumers tend to discard perfectly good items based solely on the date printed on the packaging, fearing that consuming them beyond that date may pose health risks. According to a study by ReFED, approximately 35% of food waste is due to consumer misunderstanding of expiration dates, leading to over $160 billion in wasted food annually in the United States alone.

However, as explained before, some types of expiry date labels actually indicate product quality rather than strict food safety. Understanding the different types of these dates, such as “Sell By” and “Use By” empowers consumers to make informed decisions.

Don’t toss that food just yet! While most products have clear expiry dates, some rely on batch codes. You can sometimes check the expiry date using the batch number. These unique identifiers can sometimes be used to check expiry dates, but the process depends on the manufacturer.

For instance, batch codes on canned goods or packaged snacks often follow a specific alphanumeric format that manufacturers can decode. Advanced coding machines like CIJ printers are widely used to ensure batch codes are clearly marked, enabling better traceability and consumer confidence. Many food, beverage, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical companies rely on batch coding with CIJ or TIJ printers to comply with strict labeling regulations and provide transparency to customers.

This uncertainty can lead to food waste – consumers might discard perfectly good items based solely on the printed date. To avoid this, understanding the different types of expiry dates (like “Sell By” vs. “Use By”) is key. This knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions and potentially save money by not throwing away safe food.

Beyond Dates: The Significance of Proper Food Storage

While understanding expiration dates is important, it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ensuring food safety and quality. Proper food storage also plays a pivotal role in maintaining the freshness and integrity of products beyond their expiration dates.

It is true that those dates provide valuable guidance, but how we store our food can make a significant difference in its longevity and safety.

One key aspect of proper food storage is maintaining the right temperature. Refrigerators should be set at or below 40°F (4°C) to minimize bacterial growth and preserve the freshness of perishable items. This ensures foods remain fresh and safe for consumption for as long as possible.

Additionally, it’s essential to pay attention to the storage conditions of different food items. Some products, like dairy and meats, require refrigeration to prevent spoilage. Others, such as dry pantry staples, fare best in cool, dry environments away from direct sunlight. Proper labeling combined with proper storage not only extends shelf life but also helps businesses build consumer trust by ensuring product safety.

However, if you are a business owner or a food manufacturer, it is crucial to always put expire date labels on your product packaging for safety consideration. For reliable and efficient labeling solutions, see a complete list of thermal inkjet printers here. For example, a mid-sized dairy producer reduced labeling errors by 20% and increased consumer trust after upgrading to a TIJ printer for precise expiration date marking. This highlights the importance of using reliable coding technology in food production.

Explore our range of advanced thermal inkjet printers and continuous inkjet printers, designed for accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with food safety standards.

By upgrading to reliable coding technology, many food manufacturers have reduced labeling errors, minimized product recalls, and strengthened customer confidence.

Referensi:

https://www.alisqi.com/en/blog/why-a-product-expiry-date-matters-for-more-than-just-food

https://fastercapital.com/content/Consumer-Awareness–Empowering-Consumers–Understanding-Expiration-Dates.html

https://landofrost.com/5-rules-that-finally-decode-food-label-dates/

https://foodrevolution.org/blog/how-to-read-food-labels/

https://www.checkfresh.com/how-to-find-batch-number.html?lang=en