Do Expiration Dates Really Matter?

Government Regulations

Considering food dating never focused on public health and food safety, but rather the quality of food, there is no federal regulation over the use of dates, although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have regulatory power over product misbranding. The only nationally required and regulated food dating involves infant formula and some baby food, as the nutrients found in infant formula and food lose their nutritional value and potency over time. Most regulation for food dates occurs at the state level, as many states have implemented their own regulations to ensure food quality and safety for their citizens. For instance, some states mandate removing dairy products from store shelves once the expiry date has passed.

All states, except nine, have food dating rules, but they vary widely. This has resulted in a variety of different rules for different products. In some cases, sometimes a product needs a date, and sometimes it doesn’t, just like some products cannot be sold after a particular date, which causes consumer confusion and tons of wasted food.

Next, reveal what foods you can and cannot eat past its expiry date.