Bolton offers advice on food dating, ‘best by’ labels in Sun Journal column
Advice from Jason Bolton, a food safety specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, was included in an answer to a Sun Journal reader’s question about what the dates on cans really mean. Bolton said there is no universally accepted food dating system in the United States, so some of the information printed on cans is situational depending on the product and the company that produced it. Dating cans is a voluntary practice in this country, and some manufacturers don’t even perform shelf-life studies to determine how long a product will last, which Bolton always recommends, according to the article. Words appearing on cans such as “best if used by” are freshness dates, meaning the can’s contents have the best quality before that date, however, they may still be edible and safe for consumption, the article states. Bolton said potentially hazardous foods, such as meats, fish, dairy and eggs have expiration dates on them that are still quality related, but it’s best to err on the side of caution when dealing with food.