Most foods are safe well past the dates printed on their packaging, because those dates almost always refer to quality, not safety. The exceptions are few but important: infant formula, certain medications, and perishables that have been stored improperly. For everything else, the answer depends on the type of product and how it’s been stored.
What Date Labels Actually Mean
The most common label you’ll see is “Best if Used By,” which tells you when a product will be at peak flavor and texture. It has nothing to do with whether the food is safe to eat. “Sell-By” dates are instructions for the store, not for you. “Use-By” dates are the closest thing to a true expiration, but even these are typically conservative estimates set by the manufacturer.
Only one product in the United States is federally required to carry a strict use-by date: infant formula. The FDA mandates this because the nutrient levels in formula degrade over time, and babies depend on those precise amounts. For virtually every other food product, date labels are voluntary and unregulated at the federal level.
Canned Goods: Years, Not Months
Canned foods are among the longest-lasting items in your pantry. High-acid canned foods like tomatoes, fruits, and pickles hold their best quality for 12 to 18 months past the printed date. Low-acid canned foods, including meats, beans, and most vegetables, can last two to five years. The key is that the can itself must be intact. Toss any cans that are dented, rusted, or swollen, as these are signs that the seal may have been compromised and bacteria could be growing inside.
Dry Goods and Pantry Staples
White rice lasts up to two years unopened and about a year after opening if stored in a cool, dry pantry. Dry pasta, flour, and similar staples follow a similar pattern. The enemies here are moisture, heat, and pests, not time itself. Storing these items in airtight containers in a dark spot between 50 and 70°F gives you the longest shelf life. If something smells off or shows signs of insects, discard it. Otherwise, a bag of rice a few months past its date is perfectly fine.
Eggs and Dairy
Eggs are safe to eat for three to five weeks after you buy them, and the sell-by date will usually fall somewhere within that window. So if you’re a week or two past the sell-by date on your carton, the eggs are likely still good. A simple test: place an egg in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs sink and lie flat. Older but still safe eggs stand upright on the bottom. Eggs that float have developed gas inside and should be thrown out.
Milk is trickier because its shelf life depends heavily on how cold your refrigerator runs. Pasteurized milk stored at or below 40°F often lasts five to seven days past its sell-by date. Your nose is a reliable guide here. Sour smell, chunky texture, or off-color means it’s time to pour it out.
Frozen Food Stays Safe Indefinitely
Food stored at a constant 0°F is safe to eat no matter how long it’s been in the freezer. The dates on frozen food packages refer entirely to quality. A chicken breast frozen for two years won’t make you sick, but it may taste dry or develop freezer burn, those grayish-white patches caused by air exposure. Freezer burn doesn’t make food unsafe, just less appetizing. You can cut away affected spots and still use the rest in soups or stews where texture matters less.
Medications: Mostly Fine, With a Few Exceptions
Drug expiration dates are far more conservative than most people realize. The U.S. military’s Shelf Life Extension Program tested 122 drugs and found that two-thirds remained stable every time they were tested. On average, those medications had their expiration dates extended by more than four years. A separate study examined 14 compounds, including antihistamines, pain relievers, and stimulants, that were 30 to 40 years past their printed dates. Twelve of the 14 were still as potent as the day they were manufactured.
That said, certain medications do degrade in ways that matter. Liquid antibiotics, insulin, nitroglycerin (used for chest pain), and aspirin have all shown signs of physical breakdown past their expiration dates. Mefloquine, an antimalarial drug, and EpiPens also lose potency faster than most medications. For EpiPens specifically, a study of 40 expired devices found that all retained at least 80% of their labeled dose, and 24 out of 40 still had at least 90%. That’s reassuring in an emergency, but not a reason to rely on one that’s years out of date when a replacement is available.
For common over-the-counter pills like ibuprofen or allergy medication, using a bottle that expired six months or even a year ago is unlikely to cause harm. The medication may be slightly less effective, but it won’t become toxic. The bigger concern is with drugs where precise dosing matters, like heart medications, seizure drugs, or anything in liquid form.
Sunscreen Loses Its Protection
The FDA requires sunscreen to remain at full strength for at least three years from manufacture. If your bottle has an expiration date, respect it: expired sunscreen may not protect you from UV damage, and there’s no way to tell by looking at it whether the active ingredients have broken down. If there’s no expiration date printed on the bottle, write the purchase date on it yourself and replace it after three years. Throw it out sooner if the color or texture has changed significantly.
How to Tell if Something Has Gone Bad
Your senses are surprisingly good at detecting spoilage. The main signs are changes in color, texture, smell, or taste compared to the fresh version of the food. Mold, sliminess, and off-putting odors are all clear signals to discard something. What makes this complicated is that not all dangerous bacteria produce visible or detectable changes. Pathogenic bacteria like Clostridium perfringens in meat and Bacillus cereus in dairy products can cause serious illness even when food doesn’t look or smell obviously spoiled.
The general rule: shelf-stable items (cans, dry goods, frozen food) are forgiving. Perishable items that depend on refrigeration, like raw meat, soft cheeses, deli meats, and prepared foods, deserve more caution. With those, staying within a few days of the printed date and trusting your nose is the safest approach. When storage conditions have been inconsistent, like groceries that sat in a warm car for an hour, err on the side of caution regardless of what the label says.