Dates printed on your food aren’t about expiration: What they really mean

We’ve all been there: you reach for a bag of chips in the pantry only to realize it’s past the date printed on the package. Or maybe you’ve found a shelf of discounted food at the grocery store that’s nearing its printed date. 

Once that date has passed, does that mean the food has expired and you shouldn’t eat it? 

The answer is a bit complicated.

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Back before Lisa lost her sight, she was really bad about the so-called expiration dates on perishables. No matter how many times I explained it was a 'best by' or 'sell by' date, if it was the day that was printed on the label, it went in the trash or down the drain.

What changed? Now I have to read the dates to her and damned near everything expires (ahem) tomorrow.

I know, I'm an asshole.