Always purchase eggs before their “sell by” date. The date on the egg carton is usually a “sell by” date (if it says EXP, that’s an expiration date. The date is usually just an indicator of the egg’s freshness. The words “Best Before” must be used. What Does Your Egg Carton Label Mean? An Egg Story: Does the Date Mean "Too Late"? Click here to download the Julian calendar for 2014. Dates on egg cartons and all other food packaging reflect food quality, not food safety. It marks the day of the year the the eggs were placed in the carton. These numbers represent the consecutive days of the year. For example a egg carton with a packaging date of 032, means the eggs were packed on February 1st. That is the date that the eggs were washed, graded (in this case Grade A), and packed in the carton. When refrigerated, eggs will last longer than if set out at … The pack date in the egg carton above is 088, which was March 27, 2015. The date doesn't mean you should throw away the milk the day after the sell-by date, it just means the store can no longer sell it at full retail ( and in some places, they can't sell it at all). When you purchase food items at your local grocery store, you may notice a printed sell by date, use by date or best before date on the packaging or item itself and wonder just what that date really means. All Rights Reserved. The Julian date is usually found on the short side of the carton. The pack date informs the consumer when the eggs were washed, graded, and packed into the cartons. Copyright © On the side of your egg carton, right by (or below) the “Sell By” date, you’ll see a three-digit code. Where The Eggs Were Packaged. Also, you can use the date stamped on the carton as a guide. E ggs are safe to be consumed four to five weeks beyond that date, as long as they are kept refrigerated. Many eggs reach stores only a few days after being laid. The eggs may still come in just the two colors, but now there are many different “types” of those two different colors of eggs. See why Wednesday is officially #Weggsday. But as long … Although not required, they may also carry an expiration date beyond which the eggs should not be sold, but are still safe to eat. It fails the "float test" The easiest way to tell whether or not a carton of eggs has gone bad is to do … You'll usually find it on one of the ends, near the sell-by date or expiration date. Adding eggs to a healthy diet is a great idea, but buying eggs at the store can be really confusing. The date on the carton is a sell by date so the grocer know when to pull older eggs. This three-digit code represents the consecutive day of the year, with January 1 as 001 and December 31 being 365. Once upon a time, when you went to the store to buy eggs you had two choices: white eggs or brown eggs. Egg Carton Labels Can Be Confusing! Not so anymore! Julian Date: Starting with January 1 as number 1 and ending with December 31 as 365, these numbers represent the consecutive days of the year. Eggs may only come in one shape, but Sprouts has numerous options to choose from. You'd rather buy fresh ones right? The USDA Grade on Egg Cartons: What Does It Mean? When picking out eggs at the supermarket, most of us check the "best by" date, but it turns out those other numbers listed on the carton may be the real key to avoiding some very bad eggs. The FDA gives farmers 30 days to place an egg in a carton and then another 30 days to sell that egg after it’s been placed in a carton. No alternatives are permitted. cannot exceed 30 days after the eggs were packed in the carton. What does the date on eggs mean if it does not say sell by or expires by in the United States? This three-digit sequence refers to the specific date that your eggs were packaged (via Insider). I prefer the Julian date to determine freshness. The "best by" date is certainly a suitable way to check your eggs' freshness, but it's worth looking at … “Julian Date”. It wasn’t stored at the correct temperature. . Egg marking is a form of egg labelling that includes an egg code stamped on the egg itself. How to Decode Your Egg Carton. This all unravelled one night on Facebook, and I’m glad I know about egg codes now and how to identify them – hopefully you will now too! Grading of eggs is just one of the many steps that egg farmers take to ensure the safety and quality of eggs. Viewed 176 times 2. Julian Date: Starting with January 1 as #1 and ending with December 31 as #365, these numbers represent the consecutive days of the year. I've had milk that stayed safe to drink a week and a half past the sell-by date. Therefore, some egg containers will list the expiration date, while others may not. Today's consumers must decipher a variety of dates on grocery products. The Julian date indicates how long ago the eggs were packaged. January 1 would be 001 and December 31 … On cartons with the USDA grademark, this date can not exceed 30 days after the eggs were packed in the carton. Don’t use them after that). The Julian date is the “pack date,” when the eggs were washed, graded and place in the carton. So, to clarify, does this mean the indicated timeline BEYOND the sell by date or beyond the date of purchase if there is no sell by date listed? "Use-by," "sell-by," and "best-if-consumed-by" dates are guidelines for how long the food item is considered fresh or safe. In the EU there is a producer code regulated by law since 2004. A "best before" date tells you when the "durable life" period ends. These dates are not required by the federal government but may be required by state laws where the eggs are marketed. January 1 is 001, and December 31 is 365 (in a leap year, December 31 is 366). You'd rather buy fresh ones right? After further reading, caged hens are no longer allowed in this country, but that doesn’t explain why these eggs are graded as a 3. There are so many different labels on eggs these days, it’s difficult to know which ones are the best. For example, if the label contains the number 359, then the eggs … ggs are safe to be consumed four to five weeks beyond that date. Sweet Potato Turkey Hash and Poached Eggs, Boy of Steal’s Green Chile Egg Salad Sliders. Egg cartons with the USDA grademark must display a Julian date – the date the eggs were packed. Here at Eat By Date, we are doing our best to make sure that you, the conscious consumer, are fully informed about the true “shelf life” of the most popular food items. The date is also marked on the egg shell in the European Union. This date usually appears as a 3 digit code using the Julian date calendar. You buy them, open up the carton healthy diet is a great idea, but Sprouts numerous... 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