Sell by vs. Use by

Didn't they always used to have a "use by" date on foods? I could swear that they did. However, I think the grocery industry must have petitioned congress to start using the "sell by" date. That way, they know when to pull it off their shelves. Unless you shop in Hoopeston. You really have to watch the dates or you'll get something home that's primed for a science experiment. Been there, done that.

I'd much rather see the "use by" date. Sell by doesn't help me. How do I know how long my yogurt is good for? Is it 2 days, 3 days, a week? Probably not a week, but I guarantee you that when that sell by date comes and goes, that yogurt meets the trash! I'm not taking any chances and I'm not checking it with my nose.

Then there's the "born on" date that's on beer. REALLY?! I always thought that was stupid, too. I guess they were trying to be clever. Nothing like a drunk trying to figure out how old or young their beer should be before consuming it. Does yogurt stay fresh as long as beer does? Probably not.

So we try to eat everything in our house before the sell by date. It's just safer that way.