How Expiration Dates Actually Work (It’s NOT What You Think!)

You checked the date. It says “expired.”
But does that really mean the food is unsafe?

Every year, billions of dollars’ worth of perfectly edible food is thrown away because of one small printed date. But the truth about expiration dates is far more surprising than most people realize.

In this video, we uncover what expiration dates really mean, where they came from, and why they quietly control what we eat — even when the food itself hasn’t gone bad. You’ll learn the difference between best before, use by, and sell by dates, who actually decides them, and which foods you should (and shouldn’t) trust past the label.

This isn’t about ignoring food safety.
It’s about understanding the system — and using common sense again.

If you enjoy learning the hidden history and surprising science behind everyday things, this channel is for you.

00:00 Intro
00:56 Life Before Expiration Dates
01:42 What is the expiration date
02:52 ''Best Before''
03:10 ''Use By''
03:26 ''Sell By''
03:42 Who decides expiration date
04:42 When That Matters

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📌 Topics Covered:

What expiration dates actually mean

Why most food dates are about quality, not safety

The difference between best before, use by, and sell by

Why companies choose conservative dates

How to reduce food waste safely

🔔 New videos explore:

Everyday objects • Hidden histories • How things work • Simple things with big stories