Open shelf life dating of food

Except for infant formula, dates are not an indicator of the product’s safety and are not required by Federal law.

[Top of Page] How do Manufacturers Determine Quality Dates?

The "Use-By" date is selected by the manufacturer, packer or distributor of the product on the basis of product analysis throughout its shelf life, tests, or other information.Additionally, immediately adjacent to the date must be a phrase explaining the meaning of that date such as "Best if Used By." [Top of Page] Are Dates for Food Safety or Food Quality?Manufacturers provide dating to help consumers and retailers decide when food is of best quality.“Closed Dating” is a code that consists of a series of letters and/or numbers applied by manufacturers to identify the date and time of production.[Top of Page] Does Federal Law Require Food Product Dating?

Viruses are not capable of growing in food and do not cause spoilage.