{"id":69837,"date":"2025-09-27T20:31:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T15:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smartfoodsafe.com\/clone\/?p=69837"},"modified":"2025-10-14T12:42:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T07:12:37","slug":"whats-the-date-on-food-labels-really-saying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartfoodsafe.com\/clone\/whats-the-date-on-food-labels-really-saying\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the Date on Food Labels Really Saying?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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What\u2019s the Date on Food Labels Really Saying?\n<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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What\u2019s the Date on Food Labels Really Saying?\n<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n Smart HACCP Table of Contents<\/title>\r\n <style>\r\n .wrapper {\r\n display: flex;\r\n min-height: 90vh;\r\n margin: 0;\r\n padding: 0;\r\n}\r\n.toc {\r\n min-width: 300px !important;\r\n padding: 1rem;\r\n background-color: #FEEEDB80 !important;\r\n position: sticky;\r\n top: 23% !important;\r\n height: fit-content;\r\n box-sizing: border-box;\r\n border-radius: 10px;\r\n}\r\nh1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6{\r\n font-family: 'Plus Jakarta Sans';\r\n line-height: 1.3em;\r\n}\r\n.toc h2 {\r\n font-size: 1.2rem;\r\n margin-top: 1rem;\r\n margin-bottom: 1rem;\r\n font-family: 'Plus Jakarta Sans' !important;\r\n font-weight: 900;\r\n color: #0b163f;\r\n}\r\n.toc ul {\r\n list-style: none;\r\n padding-left: 0;\r\n font-family: 'Plus Jakarta Sans';\r\n color: #0b163f !important;\r\n margin-bottom: 10px;\r\n}\r\n.toc li.active {\r\n background-color: #f7d0a3; \/* Desired background color *\/\r\n color: #0B163F; \/* Desired text color *\/\r\n font-weight: bold;\r\n border-radius: 5px;\r\n}\r\n.toc li a {\r\n color: inherit;\r\n font-family: 'Poppins';\r\n text-decoration: none;\r\n display: block;\r\n width: 100%;\r\n font-size: 16px;\r\n line-height: 1.6em;\r\n height: 100%;\r\n padding-top: 4px;\r\n padding-bottom: 4px;\r\n padding-left: 7px;\r\n padding-right: 5px;\r\n}\r\n.content {\r\n flex-grow: 1;\r\n padding: 0rem 1rem 0rem 1.5rem;\r\n box-sizing: border-box;\r\n}\r\n.content img {\r\n width: 100%;\r\n height: auto;\r\n border-radius: 8px;\r\n}\r\n.section p a, .section ol li a,.section ul li a{\r\n color: #E88300;\r\n text-decoration: underline;\r\n}\r\nhtml {\r\n scroll-behavior: smooth;\r\n}\r\n.content-bar-img, .content-bar-heading\r\n {\r\n margin-bottom: 8px !important;\r\n}\r\n.section {\r\n margin-bottom: 2rem;\r\n margin-top: 1rem;\r\n}\r\n.section h2 {\r\n font-size: 1.5rem;\r\n margin-top: 0;\r\n color: #0b163f;\r\n font-weight: 700;\r\n font-family: 'Plus Jakarta Sans';\r\n}\r\n.section p, .section ul , .section ol {\r\n font-family: 'Poppins';\r\n color: #0b163f;\r\n font-size: 16px;\r\n line-height: 24px;\r\n \r\n}\r\n.section ul li {\r\n margin-bottom: 0.5rem;\r\n}\r\nhtml {\r\n scroll-behavior: smooth;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.section-image {\r\n width: 100%;\r\n max-width: 600px;\r\n height: auto;\r\n margin-top: 1.5rem;\r\n border-radius: 10px !important;\r\n}\r\n\r\n@media (max-width: 768px) {\r\n .wrapper {\r\n flex-direction: column;\r\n }\r\n .content img.sticky-img {\r\n display: none;\r\n}\r\n.content img.content-inner-img{\r\n display: block;\r\n margin-bottom: 10px;\r\n}\r\nh2{\r\n font-size: 25px;\r\n}\r\nh3, h4{\r\n font-size: 20px;\r\n}\r\n .toc , .content {\r\n height: auto;\r\n }\r\n .toc {\r\n position: unset;\r\n}\r\n\r\n}\r\n@media (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 1024px) {\r\n nav.toc.list {\r\n min-width: 250px !important;\r\n height: 70vh !important;\r\n }\r\n nav.toc.list {\r\n margin-right: 0px;\r\n }\r\n}\r\n\r\n@media (max-width: 1024px) {\r\nnav.toc.list {\r\n margin-left: 20px;\r\n margin-bottom: 25px;\r\n}\r\n.left_content_post_col {\r\n width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media (min-width: 1025px) and (max-width: 1193px) {\r\n.content {\r\n padding: 1rem !important;\r\n}\r\n .toc, .sticky-right-bar {\r\n top: 22% !important;\r\n }\r\n.sticky-right-bar .elementor-heading-title {\r\n font-size: 16px !important;\r\n font-weight: 600;\r\n}\r\n.right-media-screen{\r\n width: 25% !important;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n\r\n@media (min-width: 2249px) and (max-width:4000px){\r\n \/*.wrapper .toc, .sticky-right-bar {*\/\r\n \/* height: 50vh !important;*\/\r\n \/* min-height: 40vh;*\/\r\n \/*}*\/\r\n}\r\n @media only screen and (min-width: 2250px) and (min-height: 1500px) {\r\n .wrapper .toc {\r\n min-width: 300px !important;\r\n padding: 1.5rem;\r\n background-color: #FEEEDB80 !important;\r\n position: sticky;\r\n top: 23% !important;\r\n height: 30vh !important;\r\n box-sizing: border-box;\r\n border-radius: 10px;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/style>\r\n <\/head>\r\n<body>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\r\n <!-- Left Side: TOC -->\r\n <nav class=\"toc list\">\r\n <h2>Table of Contents<\/h2>\r\n <ul>\r\n <li><a href=\"#section1\">1. Food Date Labeling: Indicators of Safety, Quality, or Both?<\/a><\/li>\r\n <li><a href=\"#section2\">2. Types of Food Date Labels (and What They Mean?)<\/a><\/li>\r\n <li><a href=\"#section3\">3. How to Read Food Date Labels?<\/a><\/li>\r\n <li><a href=\"#section4\">4. How Do Manufacturers Set Quality Dates?<\/a><\/li>\r\n <li><a href=\"#section5\">5. How Does Date Labeling Impact Food Waste? <\/a><\/li>\r\n <li><a href=\"#section6\">6. How Food Businesses and Retailers Are Adapting?<\/a><\/li>\r\n <li><a href=\"#section7\">7. What Can Consumers Do?<\/a><\/li>\r\n \r\n <\/ul>\r\n <\/nav>\r\n\r\n <!-- Right Side: Content -->\r\n <main class=\"content\">\r\n <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/smartfoodsafe.com\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Meeting-Consumer-Demand-in-Food-Safety-3.png\" alt=\"Help Icon\" class=\"sticky-img\" \/>\r\n<section class=\"section\">\r\n<p><b><i>Have you ever glanced at the date on a package, sighed, and dumped the food into the bin? Bread, milk, rice, canned goods, all tossed in an instant, not because they were spoiled, but because the label suggested their time was up. Multiply that small act by millions of households, and suddenly it\u2019s not just about one loaf or one carton. It\u2019s a global story of waste and hunger, unfolding quietly in kitchens and markets every single day.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><i>But here\u2019s the thing: those little stamps on our food don\u2019t always mean the same thing. <\/i><b><i>Best Before <\/i><\/b><i>isn\u2019t the same as<\/i><b><i> Use By<\/i><\/b><i>, and neither means exactly what most people think. Some dates speak to quality, others to safety, and some are only meant for retailers, not consumers at all.<\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><i>In reality, these labels vary across regions.<\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><i>-<\/i> In <b>the U.S<\/b>., only infant formula has a strict \u201cUse By\u201d date; elsewhere, dates mostly refer to quality rather than safety.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p id=\"section1\">- In <b>the EU<\/b>, \u201cUse By\u201d means safety for perishables, while \u201cBest Before\u201d marks longer-lasting foods.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>- Many countries in <b>Africa and Asia<\/b> use mixed systems influenced by either U.S. or European standards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Food Date Labeling: Indicators of Safety, Quality, or Both?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The truth is, food dates can signal both safety and quality but most often, they\u2019re about quality.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201c<b>Use By<\/b>\u201d is the real safety marker, mostly <b>on highly perishable foods.<\/b> Marking the point after which eating the product could be risky.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201c<b>Best Before<\/b>\u201d and \u201c<b id=\"section2\">Best If Used By<\/b>,\u201d on the other hand, are about quality instead\u2014freshness, flavor, texture, and overall quality. Past the date doesn\u2019t mean unsafe; it just might not taste its best.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n<section class=\"section\">\r\n <h2>Types of Food Date Labels (and What They Mean?)<\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food packaging comes with a mix of date labels \u2014 some for stores, others for consumers. Here are the most common ones:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><b>Sell By \/ Display Until<\/b> \u2014 A guide for retailers indicating how long to display the product for sale.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Best Before \/ Best If Used By<\/b> \u2014 Suggests when the product will be at its best flavor or quality.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Use By<\/b> \u2014 The last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality; often the closest to a safety deadline for perishable foods.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Expires On<\/b> \u2014 Indicates the date after which the food is not recommended to be consumed, usually applies to baby formula, medications, or highly perishable items.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Pack Date \/ Frozen On<\/b> \u2014 The date when the product was packed\/frozen; helps calculate freshness but is <b>not a safety indicator.<\/b><\/li>\r\n<li><b id=\"section3\">Freeze By<\/b> \u2014 Best time to freeze for top quality.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Open By \/ Consume Within X Days<\/b> \u2014 Tells you how long it\u2019s good once opened.<\/li>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n<section class=\"section\">\r\n <h2>How to Read Food Date Labels?<\/h2>\r\n <p>Food labels can feel like a secret code, but once you know what to look for, they\u2019re much easier to understand. Start with the exact wording. <i>\u201cUse By\u201d<\/i> isn\u2019t the same as <i>\u201cBest Before.\u201d<\/i> As stated earlier, one is about safety, the other about quality and that difference really matters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Next, take a close look at the <b>storage instructions printed near the date.<\/b> They\u2019re not just filler text, they\u2019re key to making sense of the label. For example, if the package says <i>\u201cKeep refrigerated at \u22644\u00b0C\/40\u00b0F\u201d<\/i> but the food has been sitting out on the counter for half the afternoon, that printed date suddenly becomes unreliable. The product may spoil faster than the label suggests, regardless of what the calendar says. <b>Proper storage<\/b> is what gives those dates meaning. A milk carton kept consistently cold in the fridge will likely last right up to or even a little beyond its <b><i>Best Before<\/i><\/b><b> date.<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b>Packaging<\/b> is another major factor in how long food stays safe and tasty. Foods that are vacuum-sealed, canned, or packed in aseptic cartons are designed to block out air, light, and bacteria, giving them a much longer shelf life than the same items wrapped in simple plastic or paper. That\u2019s why canned beans can sit in your pantry for months, while fresh ones spoil in just a few days.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>But don\u2019t overlook the <b>small print about <\/b>what happens <b><i id=\"section4\">after opening<\/i><\/b>. Many products are perfectly stable until you break the seal, and then everything changes. A carton of long-life milk or a jar of pasta sauce can sit safely on the shelf unopened, but once opened, they need refrigeration and should be used within a few days.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/section>\r\n \r\n \r\n<section class=\"section\">\r\n <h2>How Do Manufacturers Set Quality Dates?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Those dates you see on food packages aren\u2019t guesses \u2014 they\u2019re the result of testing, observation, and a little bit of regulation. Manufacturers want to make sure their products taste, look, and feel their best for as long as possible, so they run different kinds of studies before printing a date on the label.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n <li><b>Microbiological testing<\/b> checks when bacteria, molds, or yeasts begin to grow, even before food looks or smells spoiled.<\/li>\r\n <li><b>Shelf-life trials<\/b> put foods under controlled conditions to track how flavor, texture, and appearance change over time like when cereal loses its crunch or juice starts to taste flat.<\/li>\r\n <li><b>Packaging studies<\/b> explore how well containers protect the food. Vacuum-sealed bags or cans keep oxygen and moisture out, while simple wraps or boxes don\u2019t offer the same defense.<\/li>\r\n <li><b>Ingredient stability<\/b> matters, too. Fats can oxidize and turn rancid, vitamins and flavors fade, and colors lose their brightness as time goes on.<\/li>\r\n<li id=\"section5\"><b>Regulatory guidance<\/b> steps in for higher-risk items, such as meat or infant formula, where safety standards are stricter.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n \r\n \r\n<section class=\"section\">\r\n <h2>How Does Date Labeling Impact Food Waste?<\/h2>\r\n <p>Millions of tons of food end up in the trash each year, not because it\u2019s spoiled, but because of misunderstood labels.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>For Example, in South Africa, many <b>supermarkets<\/b> routinely remove products once they hit their <b><i>Best Before<\/i><\/b><b> date<\/b> even though they\u2019re often still safe to consume. Some chains send these items to food banks before they spoil, but others simply discard them. This practice stems from treating quality dates like safety dates.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Another example where a survey in the UK by surplus food app <i>Too Good To Go<\/i> found that <b id=\"section6\">nearly a third of people said they\u2019ve thrown food away <\/b><b><i>solely because<\/i><\/b><b> it passed the <\/b><b><i>Best Before<\/i><\/b><b> date<\/b>, without checking if it was still edible.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/section> \r\n\r\n<section class=\"section\">\r\n <h2>How Food Businesses and Retailers Are Adapting?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Food businesses and retailers play a key role in cutting waste and helping consumers make sense of confusing date labels. Many are already shifting their practices to reduce the amount of good food that ends up in the trash.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n <li><b>Clearer labels<\/b> \u2014 One of the biggest changes has been moving away from vague terms. Phrases like <i>\u201cSell By\u201d<\/i> or <i>\u201cDisplay Until\u201d<\/i> often confused shoppers into thinking the food was unsafe. Now, more companies are adopting clearer labels such as <b><i>Best if used by<\/i><\/b> for quality and <b>pairing it with a note<\/b> like <b><i>Not a safety date<\/i><\/b> to make the meaning obvious.<\/li>\r\n <li><b>Dynamic pricing<\/b> \u2014 Rather than letting food sit until it expires, retailers are increasingly discounting products as they approach their <i>Best Before<\/i> date. This encourages shoppers to buy and use them quickly, preventing waste while still moving stock.<\/li>\r\n <li><b>Smart tech<\/b> \u2014 Imagine packaging that can <i>tell you<\/i> when food is actually starting to spoil. Some companies are testing <b>freshness sensors<\/b> and <b>QR codes<\/b> that change <b>depending on how the food is stored<\/b>. Instead of a fixed printed date, you\u2019d get <b>real-time updates<\/b> on how long your food will really last.<\/li>\r\n <li><b>Donation programs<\/b> \u2014 Many supermarkets and manufacturers now donate safe, unsold food to <b>food banks<\/b> and <b>charities<\/b> before the date passes. This not only reduces waste but also supports communities in need.<\/li>\r\n <li><b>Portion and packaging innovation<\/b> \u2014 Businesses are rethinking <b>package sizes<\/b> and formats to make food easier to consume before it spoils. Smaller packs, resealable bags, and single-serve portions help households waste less once a product is opened.<\/li>\r\n <li><b>Education campaigns<\/b> \u2014 Beyond labels and packaging, some retailers are running <b id=\"section7\">awareness drives<\/b> to teach customers what different dates mean and how to check freshness themselves. This helps shoppers build confidence in judging food safety beyond just the printed date.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<\/section> \r\n\r\n\r\n<section class=\"section\">\r\n <h2>What Can Consumers Do?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Clearer labels may be on the horizon, but we don\u2019t have to wait for industry or regulators to act. As consumers, we can take simple steps to cut waste and make our food stretch further:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n <li><b>Learn the lingo<\/b> \u2014 Not all dates mean the same thing. <i>Use By<\/i> is about safety, while <i>Best Before<\/i> is about quality. Knowing the difference helps you decide what truly needs to go and what\u2019s still good to eat.<\/li>\r\n <li><b>Store smart<\/b> \u2014 Dates only matter if storage is right. Keep your fridge at or below 4\u00b0C\/40\u00b0F, seal items properly, and don\u2019t leave perishables out too long. Bad storage can ruin food long before its printed date.<\/li>\r\n <li><b>Trust your senses<\/b> \u2014 Labels are guides, not guarantees. Check how food looks, smells, and feels before deciding to toss it. Most of the time, your senses will give you a more accurate answer than the date on the package.<\/li>\r\n <li><b>Plan & portion<\/b> \u2014 Buy what you\u2019ll realistically use, and once opened, finish it before starting something new. Smaller, thoughtful shopping trips often mean less waste in the bin.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Freeze it<\/b> \u2014 Freezers are one of the best tools against food waste. Bread, meat, leftovers \u2014 freezing locks in safety and quality well beyond the printed date.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>So, what's the solution? It's a three-part strategy that starts with you. First, <b>shop smarter.<\/b> This means planning your meals, making a list, and sticking to it. A smart shopper buys for the week they have, not the month they imagine. Second, <b>store correctly.<\/b> Your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry are powerful tools against waste. Storing produce in the right crisper drawer, keeping dairy at a consistent cold temperature, and using your freezer for leftovers or items nearing their date isn't just neat, it's a preservation strategy. Finally, and most critically, <b>trust your judgment.<\/b> We've outsourced our common sense to printed dates for too long. Let's stop being passive victims of confusing labels and start being the generation that makes food waste a thing of the past.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/section> \r\n\r\n \r\n <\/main>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>\r\n document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {\r\n const tocItems = document.querySelectorAll('.toc li');\r\n\r\n tocItems.forEach(function (item) {\r\n item.addEventListener('click', function () {\r\n \/\/ Remove 'active' class from all TOC items\r\n tocItems.forEach(function (el) {\r\n el.classList.remove('active');\r\n });\r\n\r\n \/\/ Add 'active' class to the clicked TOC item\r\n this.classList.add('active');\r\n });\r\n });\r\n });\r\n<\/script>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/body>\r\n<\/html>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-df92432 elementor-hidden-tablet right_content_post_col\" data-id=\"df92432\" data-element_type=\"column\" 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data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/smartfoodsafe.com\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Management_Software_img.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-61364\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartfoodsafe.com\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Management_Software_img.png 512w, https:\/\/smartfoodsafe.com\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Management_Software_img-300x223.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34302357 content-bar-heading elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"34302357\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Quality and Food Safety Management Software\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4971a20f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4971a20f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFood Safety and Quality Management Software to streamline processes, track compliance, ensure traceability and maintain audit readiness with global quality and food safety standards\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74c5c2f3 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"74c5c2f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/smartfoodsafe\/60-minutes\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Book Demo<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56856275 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"56856275\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-571944c0 elementor-hidden-widescreen elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet_extra elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"571944c0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{"background_background":"classic"}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6e13058e\" data-id=\"6e13058e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2d73c367 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2d73c367\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{"background_background":"classic"}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5fc5eebb\" data-id=\"5fc5eebb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-236577e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"236577e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Quality and Food Safety Management Software\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51aba319 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"51aba319\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFood Safety and Quality Management Software to streamline processes, track compliance, ensure traceability and maintain audit readiness with global quality and food safety standards\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37e0bd32 elementor-align-center elementor-tablet-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"37e0bd32\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/smartfoodsafe\/60-minutes\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Book Demo<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-134f5bde elementor-hidden-widescreen elementor-hidden-desktop\" data-id=\"134f5bde\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-323d852 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"323d852\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/smartfoodsafe.com\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Management_Software_img.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-61364\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartfoodsafe.com\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Management_Software_img.png 512w, https:\/\/smartfoodsafe.com\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Management_Software_img-300x223.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever glanced at the date on a package, sighed, and dumped the food into the bin? Bread, milk, rice, canned goods, all tossed in an instant, not because they were spoiled, but because the label suggested their time was up. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":69861,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[162],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-safety-management"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What\u2019s the Date on Food Labels Really Saying? - Smart Food Safe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/smartfoodsafe.com\/clone\/whats-the-date-on-food-labels-really-saying\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What\u2019s the Date on Food Labels Really Saying? - Smart Food Safe\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Have you ever glanced at the date on a package, sighed, and dumped the food into the bin? 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