Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Once the packaging seal is broken, best by and expiration dates no longer apply. Before discarding food past its date, follow ...

Consumers often assume “use by,” “best by” and “sell by” have fixed definitions and are used consistently across the food industry. In reality, there are no uniform or universally accepted definitions ...

As you shop for groceries, cook family meals, and bake homemade treats, it's probably become second nature to glance at the date on each package to make sure an ingredient is still fresh and usable.