what is the real truth about the BEST BUY date? Just how much longer after the date on cans and jars?

As far as I'm concerned, the Best Buy date on non-refrigerated items is basically a joke. Maybe it's because we didn't have them when I was growing up so I learned to not use canned goods that have bulging lids or rust. It's a relatively new addition that the FDA started to require that the manufacturers put these dates on all products. Just learn to rotate your older dry goods to the front or top of your shelving when you buy more products and then don't worry about it so much.

Some products do lose potency or freshness over time. Others would be fine for years and years as long as bugs don't get into the packaging. But the bugs can get in before the Best Buy dates as well as after!

I do follow, within reason, the dates for fresh meats and dairy. But as an example they put dates on cheese that I ignore at home...I can cut the mold off a chunk of cheese. I do look at the dates when I'm buying the products so I don't get an item that's ready to go. Especially milk, I look for the date that's the furthest away so it will keep fresh longer!

I used some really old canned goods in 2006 after I had to sell my parents' home and cleared out their kitchen to my house. I'm sure a lot of those goods were from 2001 or before since my mother had her debilitating stroke in 2001. If I remember correctly, I only had to throw out one bag of flour that had gotten bugs.

So anyway, I can't really say how long past the date on cans and jars, but it's a long time for most items if they've been properly stored.

It simply means that the best quality of the product is guaranteed if you buy the product by the date indicated.

It has nothing to do with food safety or food-borne illness. As soon as any food is prepared and packaged, the quality starts to deteriorate - slowly but it does happen. The Best Buy date is an indication that the product has been around a while and it is starting to not be as good as it was when it was new. The two things tat you will notice suffer after the Best Buy date are taste and texture.

How long after a Best Buy date you open the package and eat the food - is dependent on what food it is.

For example - something that lasts a long time, lets say Frito's corn chips - as long as they were still sealed - you could open them up and eat them for MONTHS after the Best Buy date...it isn't a food safety issue - just a taste and texture issue. They may not taste as great as when they were first packaged.

But for some items like pastries - which goes stale much faster - then you probably only have a few weeks after the best buy date before you would want to consume them

I hate seeing children on here telling people to through out perfect good food based on some irrational fear of food-borne illness. People who don't know anything about food safety often say "throw it out to be safe..." when there isn't even a food safety issue at hand. People like that are more likely to eat unsafe food because they are ignorant of the facts of what makes food safe - it has to do with how foods have been stored and prepared and NOT just how old the food is.