Cooking & Baking

Rhiannon12866

(250,597 posts) Wed Dec 31, 2025, 06:42 AM Dec 31

What Expiration Dates REALLY Mean (It's NOT What You Think!) [View all]

Expiry dates appear on almost every packaged food item, yet most people misunderstand what they actually mean. In this video, we explain what expiry dates really represent, how they are decided, and why they do not always mean food becomes unsafe the moment the date passes.

What Expiry Dates Really Mean Explained | Simple Things Surprising Histories

This documentary style episode from Simple Things Surprising Histories explores the history, science, and regulations behind food date labels. Using verified information, we break down the difference between expiry dates, best before dates, use by dates, and sell by dates, and explain how manufacturers determine them.

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:51 - CHAPTER 1 - Why Expiry Dates Exist at All
01:30 - CHAPTER 2 – Expiry Date vs Best Before vs Use By
02:16 - CHAPTER 3 – How These Dates Are Actually Decided
02:53 - CHAPTER 4 – When Dates Matter… and When They Don’t
03:22 - OUTRO

Topics covered in this video:
What expiry dates actually mean
Why food expiry dates were introduced
Difference between best before, use by, and sell by dates
How manufacturers decide food date labels
Which foods become unsafe after expiry
Which foods are still safe past the printed date
How expiry dates affect food waste worldwide
When to trust the date and when to trust your senses

2 replies

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Highlight:

What Expiration Dates REALLY Mean (It's NOT What You Think!) [View all] Rhiannon12866 Dec 31 OP

I've used canned products years after they expired with no problems. Bluepinky Dec 31 #1

Food isn't the only issue. Prescription medicines are required by law to show that you should Wonder Why Dec 31 #2