Does anyone speak Valleydale?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’m looking at a package of Valleydale bacon, trying to find the expiration date. Finally finding the black on dark maroon print, I discover that it says this:

USE BY EST 382 USE BY (0) C (T) 2 7 (0 (3) F)

Does anyone know whether my bacon is safe?

2

Oct. 27, 03?

3

Wow, Mudshark, thanks! I believe that’s it. Looking again, it seems like the ()s might be just malformations of the stamping tool. If I disregard those as well as the enormous spacing between elements, it does indeed look like OCT 27 03.

4

You think that’s bad, I have a number of products that say “see side panel for expiration” and when I see the side panel, I am greeted by a meaningless string of code, like : “use by Z78-33JUBV-00332L6”!!!

5

Maybe it’s in L33T-speak?

6

Maybe!

7

Thanks, Lib.

Now I have running through my mind the Valleydale jingle from 1950’s-60’s tv. Singing and dancing pigs.
…Hoo-Ray for VAL ey dale
Hoo-RAY for VAL ey dale
Hoo Ray for VAl ey DALE
All HAIL it’s Valleydale.