Sell By Dates on Food Are About To Change

We waste a lot of food because of those "Sell By" dates on the packaging.  Once you're past that date, I'll be honest I almost assume I'll get sick if I eat it.  So I just throw it out to be safe.  But it looks like that might change . . .

The two biggest trade groups in the grocery industry are the Food Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association.  Most of the major food companies are members.

And last week, they changed their guidelines to get RID of "Sell By" dates.  They want to standardize it.  So they're telling companies to only use the terms, "Use By" or "Best If Used By".

The term "Best If Used By" is what they'll use for most stuff.  "Use By" is only for stuff that might make you sick if you wait too long to eat it, like beef and poultry.

There's no law on the books about all this.  So companies can keep using "Sell By" dates if they want to.  But it sounds like most of them are on board, and should start following the new guidelines soon.

(Photo: Getty Images)