On perishable products, what does "sell by (date)" actually mean?

Question

How many days after that date do you have to eat the food. I know the date on milk is close to the day it goes bad.

Answer 1

it means according to the food manufacture or producer that the food is best when sold or used by that date....it does not mean that it goes bad on that date....stores do pull them off the shelves when they have expired and most donate them to the food charities and soup lines.....

Answer 2

It would depend on the food, but if you cook and freeze it, it won't go bad. This is a good way to save money; if you buy food just before the expiration date, cook and freeze it in a day or two, it's much less expensive than buying it long before its expiration date. Many supermarkets sell food that is about to reach its expiration date at considerable savings.

Answer 3

if they don't sell it by the date on it,then they will mark the price down and some people will buy it without paying attention to the expired date on it,i myself won't buy anything especially food,milk on the last date,it will make you sick.i have bought good food before the expiration date on them and put it in the fridge and was gone cook it the next day for dinner,and when i open it up it smell so bad ,i took it back,the woman swored up and down it was alright right,she gave me my money back and made a remark about rewrapping it and reselling it.i stopped that right quick,i called the supervisor of the Health Dept.who is a very good friend of mine told him what ws going on,he sent his people out there and stopped them in there tracks.so don't ever buy any thing past the expire date on it always get it a week before the date on it.

Answer 4

it matters what u buy with milk it goes bad at least 3 days after the sell by date . i think that its just the manufacturers way of saying the foods about get bad

Answer 5

stores have to take it off the shelve past that date
alot of foods are still good but are close to going bad so choose wisely

Answer 6

i think it is just what day the company has to sell it before marking down the price!! i have eat'n many foods past the sell by date amd it and i was fine!