The can of chickpeas in the pantry has a "best by" date that passed two weeks ago. The loaf of bread on the countertop boasts a "sell by" date of today. And then there's the Manchego cheese in the ...

Food labels such as “sell by,” “use by” and “best by” have long been confused for expiration dates on grocery products, leading consumers to prematurely throw away perfectly safe and nutritious foods.