How to decipher confusing food labels at the grocery store

Grocery expiration labels can be intimidating, especially for dairy and meats.
Manufacturers give their best guess as to when food will reach its peak quality with phrases like “best by,” “use by” and “sell by.” 
But, officially, the USDA says dates don’t indicate product safety. Only infant formula is required by federal law to be dated. 
“Date labels usually indicate when food will be at its optimal freshness,” said Nina Sevilla, program advocate for the food waste-fighting Natural Resources Defense Council. “If you have food a couple of days past that date, it likely means it’s still OK to consume.”
What is actually in a hot dog?There can be beef, pork, chicken and … other stuff
Holiday deals: Shop this season’s top products and sales curated by our editors.
Nevertheless, dozens of different date labels cause enough confusion to convince people to toss out food too soon, contributing to staggering waste. About 40% of the food marked for consumption in the U.S. goes uneaten.
How to:Organize your refrigerator to reduce food waste
Sevilla said the best way to know if your food has gone bad is through your senses.
“In most cases, your body has a natural, foul reaction to the taste or smell of spoiled food,” she said. “Our reaction to spoiled food is evolutionary. We’ve fine-tuned our senses to keep us safe from ingesting things that might hurt us.”
To curb unnecessary waste, the NRDC is calling for federal action to standardize food date labels. Until then, here’s how to decipher what you might find at the grocery store, plus how to press pause on ripening with your freezer.