The “Best By” Date Myth: Why Shoppers Throw Away Perfectly Good FoodAmericans discard billions of pounds of edible food every year, and confusion over date labels drives much of this waste. Manufacturers voluntarily print “Best By,” “Sell By,” and “Use By” dates to indicate peak quality, not food safety. A box of crackers might lose some crispness after the “Best By” date, but it does not become toxic. The Financial Impact of Date AnxietyThrowing away food based on dates effectively increases the cost of groceries by twenty percent or more. Ignoring the date and trusting the senses keeps that food on the table and that money in the bank.