As a prepper, you take stockpiling seriously and your pantry is undoubtedly full of canned items. Like all foodstuffs, those cans may have dates on them intended to give consumers a bead on when they are best used by. But, these dates are not put on in a standardized manner. Dating of some sort is required by 20 states. And some states mandate the removal of dairy products after expiration date. By and large, however, dates placed on products are about ensuring that customers experience a food item at its most fresh, or flavorful point, not about ensuring that the eater is entirely safe. Often food manufacturers do their own due diligence and analytics to come up with a timeline they deem acceptable.
In general labels that read use by are to indicate when the products will retain its best flavor and overall quality. Sell by dates are there for management to know when to stop displaying the product and it speaks to inventory control not customer satisfaction. Use by dates are there to let consumers know that post that time the product retains less flavor and appeal. An expiration date does indicate the last suggested date a food should be used by. Generally, commercially canned foods can last two years beyond the purchase date. A simple notation on your cans can help you track the perishable nature of your canned items yourself. In general, remember that most dates are about quality not safety. The only canned items that must be dated for safety, per federal law, are baby food and formula.
Store your cans in a clean, cool dry area, between 50-70 degrees. Always examine your cans before opening. Bulging, hissing, leaking, discolored cans could indicate contamination. When it comes to home-canned items you may want to go further and boil all contents.
Key Takeaways:
- Baby food items, such as formula, are the only canned items required by federal law to carry an expiration date.
- Sell by dates are there to alert the seller to stop displaying by a certain date, they are inventory tools and not safeguards.
- Use by dates are there to alert the consumer that peak freshness and desirability will have passed for the product if not used by the given date.
“There is no standardized rule that determines which types of products get best-by, use-by, and sell-by stamps. Food manufacturers conduct their own shelf-life studies and indicate the quality timeline of their products based on that data.”