BOSTON — Ever been confused as to what is safe to eat and what you should toss?
You aren't alone.
More than 90 percent of Americans may be prematurely tossing food because they misinterpret food labels as indicators of food safety, according to a 2013 report from the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Although the dates marked on the packaging appear to be official, they are almost always suggestions from the manufacturer.
The USDA has definitions to help consumers:
SELL BY: The date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires.
BEST IF USED BY: This date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
USE BY: The last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product.
A website called EatByDate.com allows you to find several of the foods in your pantry and determine approximately how long they are still safe to eat.
Take for instance the milk sitting in your fridge. When properly stored at or below 40 degrees, containers of milk can be safe to drink past the date printed on the carton. They even have a handy chart to show just how long to keep drinking it.
And your store bought eggs may be older than you think.
[ >> READ MORE: How to tell how old your eggs are ]
FOX25 recently reported that in the same area as the "best by" date, there's another number. That number indicates what day of the year the eggs were cartoned.
For more information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, click here.