# Understanding Kitchen Pantry Labels and Dates

- Link: https://lifeandwork.blog/understanding-kitchen-pantry-labels-and-dates/
- Published: 2026-10-23T21:27:24-05:00
- Author: Bert Swope

At a time when pantries and food waste are at their height, it’s crucial that consumers
understand what dates stamped onto grocery store products mean. With exception to
infant formula, most date labels such as Sell By, Best If Used By or Enjoy Before
are meant to indicate quality rather than safety.

Your eyes, nose, and common sense should serve as the ultimate judge when it comes
to food quality.

## Sell By

Dates with “sell by” symbols appear on high perishable foods such as meat and milk
that require refrigeration; these dates tell grocery stores how long they should
display each product for inventory management purposes. Food may still be safe to
eat after this date has passed; however, its quality or flavor may have diminished
slightly.

“Best If Used By” or “Use By” dates indicate when foods have reached their optimum
quality and should be eaten for maximum enjoyment. Although this date is not legally
binding, it is recommended that you enjoy your meal as soon as possible!

This label, typically marked with M, D and Y in code format, can be found on most
canned and boxed foods. However, it should not be confused with expiration dates
or related to safety considerations in any way.

An effective way of keeping shelf stable items fresh in your pantry or refrigerator
is reviewing their expiration dates at least every month, or more frequently for
perishable items, according to organizing expert Amanda Titchenal. She suggests 
checking perishables weekly; for such things she keeps an open bin in her refrigerator
where items that may nearing expiration may be kept. In order to easily keep tabs
on these products and ensure you never forget or consume expired or spoilt food 
again she also suggests taking steps like taking off their packaging when applicable–
something she believes may prevents forgetfulness by keeping track of expiration
dates!

## Freeze By

Food storage bins that keep your pantry organized can be great, but they may mix
new and old items together, with no expiration dates clearly marked on them. According
to organization expert Amanda Titchenal, regular inventory of your pantry should
include throwing away anything past its prime and marking reusable chalk markers
with expiration dates (which you can then erase using damp cloth and use regular
chalk when necessary.) Finally, she suggests marking containers with traditional
chalk for future reference (this way resetting old dates with new).

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