Understanding Florida's food expiration laws.
Aside from baby formula, which is federally controlled, it's up to the states to make and enforce rules on the use of expiration dates on food products. Florida's laws regarding the selling of outdated food are set by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Food Safety. If you are shopping for food products in Florida, there are a few rules to follow to protect yourself. (CE: http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/onestop/fs/foodsafe.html)
Eggs and Dairy Products
Florida Statutes, under Chapter 500, mandate that all eggs and dairy products have a "Use by" date clearly marked on the labels. It is illegal for a producer or store to sell eggs or dairy products after their "Use by" date has expired. After the "Use by" date, the products must be removed from the store shelves. A failure to remove outdated eggs and dairy products from the shelves could result in fines and the suspension of the retailer's food permit. When you shop, be sure to check your cartons of whole milk, cream, and half-and-half, as well as your ice cream and cheese products, for "use by" dates, and buy those items that have a date furthest in the future.
All Other Food Products
For all food products other than eggs and dairy products, no Florida state law mandates that an expiration date be placed on the food label. This includes meat, potatoes, vegetables, chips and canned or boxed foods. The decision to put expiration dates on these food products is entirely up to the producer, and while many producers do place some form of expiration date on their products, such labeling is more for organizational purposes than for consumer safety. Florida has no law prohibiting a store from storing or selling these other food products after the date on the label has passed, and Florida has no law that says a store must police its shelves to remove these other outdated food products. It's up to you to know what is safe to buy and when it is safe to consume these non-dairy and non-egg products.
Tip for the Forida Grocery Shopper
Stores are in business to sell their products, and food stores are no exception. Older products are usually pushed to the front of the shelves to encourage customers to grab them first. For most products, the date doesn't matter and there is no need to reach to the back of the shelf for the freshest packages. The key is the wording of the expiration date; if the label reads "best if used by" or "sell by" a certain date, that means that the product will be safe to eat long after the given date, but will begin to lose quality in its taste or texture after that date. However, if the label reads "use by" a certain date, that strictly means that the product will no longer be safe to eat after that specific date, usually because bacteria can begin to spread after the date expires. So if you're buying products with a "use by" date, pick the product with a date that is reasonably beyond the date you expect to eat the food. If you are buying milk products or eggs, watch the dates closely, and if you see outdated products on the shelves, let the shopkeeper know. If you have questions about food safety, contact:
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Division of Food Safety
3125 Conner Blvd., Suite D
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
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