What does it mean??
It is on the milk and eggs we buy, other things too. How long is it good after this sell by date?? A family of one or two will use it much slower then a family of 5 or 6. What formula do they use. Some things also get used slower then other things even by the same size family. ie grated parmesan cheese.
Our milk is sometimes bad before the sell by date, other times it was still good several days after.
I just noticed a gallon of Apply Cider Vinegar that we have had for a while. It said Best if sold by 8/3/03. Does there formula allow for a greater usage time for a gallon of vinegar??
Also what about that Best if??
Of course, all those dates apply to the unopened container (for things that are in container, naturally). Once you open them, they become more of a loose guide than a guarantee, because storage conditions can cause fluctuations like you saw with your milk.
My personal theories:
“Use by” - if it’s past this date, it goes out immediately, no questions asked.
“Sell by” - I figure they don’t expect you to use it right away the minute you get home. I guess 2 or 3 days after is usually safe.
“Best if used by” - This usually means that it can continue to be used after the date, but the quality will degrade over time. Depending on what the item is, it could still be useable months after the date.
“Honey, smell this and tell me if you think it’s good” - When my wife asks this question, I don’t even take the chance. If it smells bad enough that she has to question it, I’m not about to risk any personal damage myself. Throw it out.
Soda Pop - for many years, before they started putting dates on soft drinks, I drank many bottles that had been stored away for a seemingly long amount of time. I never noticed it go bad. But, they started putting dates on them anyway.