What Does the Best by Date Mean on Canned Fruit?

Canned products are at peak freshness before the "best by" date.

It can be confusing to make sense of printed dates found on cans of fruit and other canned products. Paying attention to these dates can help you to enjoy your food safely and reduce food waste. Does this Spark an idea?

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Regulations
- Federal law does not require product dating for canned fruit, although more than 20 states have laws that do require an expiration date.
Definition
- The "best by" date is the manufacturer's recommended time to consume the canned fruit for the best flavor and quality, as products may change in texture, taste, and color over time. The product may still remain safely consumable after the "best by" date, but will not be at peak quality.
Considerations
- Cans of fruit that are bulging or dented should be discarded, as it can be indicative of containing spoiled food. Canned fruit that has a foul odor or has significantly changed in texture or color should not be consumed, even if the date falls within the "best by" time frame.

AARP: Ask a Cook - "Sell by" vs. ''Use By" vs. "Best By"

Photo Credit tomatoes image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com

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