Savvy consumers know that in addition to basic food label information like calories and nutritional content, they also should check the numbers and dates stamped on the bottom of canned goods, prepackaged foods and fresh produce. Once you crack the code, you'll understand how to read expiration dates.
Two types of codes
According to Consumer Affairs, "Most U.S. food companies stamp lot codes and/or expiration dates on their products."
The government does very little to regulate manufacturer expiration dates. Because one size does not fit all when it comes to expiration dates and lot codes, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests that consumers look for these three other dates:
Crack the date code
On every canned or boxed product there is a four-digit code stamped on the bottom. Months are given as numbers or letters. January through September is shown as the numbers 1 through 9 with O, N and D indicating October, November and December. Other date codes might use all letters for months where A is January, B is February, C is March and so on.
Remember, the expiration date is the last date any food should be eaten. Always check that date before making a purchase, and inspect any packaging for tears, dents or broken seals that might possibly damage the quality of the contents.