Experts say that about $165 billion worth of food is being wasted each year because of false expiration dates. People waste a large volume of food out of fear and lack of proper information on the labels regarding when the food will go bad. 

Contrary to what many people believe in, most expiration dates are mainly made up. Consumers are also not well acquainted with the real meaning of the labels they see on their food purchases. Expiration dates are among the labels that are usually misinterpreted.  

The National Resource Defense Council stated that the 'sell by' dates do not indicate when the food will last. It do not also tell whether the foods are safe for human consumption. The council clarified that the said labels simply speak about the time when foods will reach its limits for optimal quality.

While many consumers believe that expiration dates refer to safety, according to the USDA, the date labels 'sell-by' and 'best before' refer to the food's best taste and quality while the 'Use by' indicates the product's last day of top quality.

The USDA states that foods are still good for consumption even after the written dates on the packaging. But the department clarified that consumers can still be sick due to certain factors. After all, expiration dates are only one of the factors to consider before consuming certain goods.

Improper handling of foods can cause bacteria to develop. The USDA states that, "foodborne bacteria can grow, and if pathogens are present, cause foodborne illness - before or after the date on the package."

StillTasty provided helpful information about when to dispose different kinds of household goods.

However, infant formulas are exempted according to the USDA. Parents are advised to follow the food labels especially the 'use by' dates indicated since babies are still delicate.