What Does Your Egg Carton Label Mean? Expiration (EXP) Date: Egg cartons with the USDA grade shield must display a “pack date,” the date they went in the carton. If the cartons have the USDA grade shield, the date the eggs were packed must appear on the carton. These numbers represent the consecutive days of the year. For example, if the label contains the number 359, then the eggs … What does the date on the egg carton mean? The Julian date is usually found on the short side of the carton. An Egg Story: Does the Date Mean "Too Late"? cannot exceed 30 days after the eggs were packed in the carton. Although not required, they may also carry an expiration date beyond which the eggs should not be sold, but are still safe to eat. Because, as it turns out, those eggs with a sell-by date don’t suddenly turn rotten at midnight. Understand what those labels really mean “ Sell … ggs are safe to be consumed four to five weeks beyond that date. “Once the date has passed, the egg loses its peak quality based on shelf life studies and consumer test preferences,” he explains. Don’t use them after that). The USDA grade shield shows the eggs were graded for quality and checked for weight under the supervision of a USDA grader. Active 4 months ago. E ggs are safe to be consumed four to five weeks beyond that date, as long as they are kept refrigerated. This tells you the date that the eggs were packed in the egg carton. All Rights Reserved. Therefore, some egg containers will list the expiration date, while others may not. 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. Not so anymore! A “sell by” date means that the eggs are good for a few days past the stamped date. Expiration (EXP) Date: Egg cartons with the USDA grade shield must display a “pack date,” the date they went in the carton. The three-digit number on the side of an egg carton references which day of the year that a particular egg was packed — so you’d see a number between 001 (representing January 1) and 365 (representing December 31) in this instance. The date on cartons can mean different things. The USDA Grade on Egg Cartons: What Does It Mean? In addition to the dates, you should also check your eggs for cracks, purchase eggs that include the USDA grade mark, and buy eggs from a refrigerated case. I've had milk that stayed safe to drink a week and a half past the sell-by date. Egg carton numbers: Sell by date; This number is not required so some cartons might have it and some might not. Egg cartons with the USDA grademark must display a Julian date – the date the eggs were packed. Grading of eggs is just one of the many steps that egg farmers take to ensure the safety and quality of eggs. January 1 would be 001 and December 31 … It’s located near the “Best By” date stamp. Egg carton numbers: Sell by date; This number is not required so some cartons might have it and some might not. Every day, people stop and stare at egg displays at the supermarket. It means that the eggs were obtained from hens that are able to forage and roam on a pasture area. What Egg-Xactly Does That Egg Label Mean? Dates on egg cartons and all other food packaging reflect food quality, not food safety. That means it’s possible to purchase eggs at the … You can also freeze eggs for longer storage. On cartons with the USDA grademark, this date can not exceed 30 days after the eggs were packed in the carton. Any eggs with the USDA shield are required to have a “pack date.” That is the date that the eggs were washed, graded (in this case Grade A), and packed in the carton. Not only does the carton code tell you wheneggs were packed, it can tells you where they were packaged too! Julian Date: Starting with January 1 as #1 and ending with December 31 as #365, these numbers represent the consecutive days of the year. check your eggs for cracks, purchase eggs that include the USDA grade mark, and buy eggs from a refrigerated case. The USDA recommends always buying your eggs from a refrigerated case, as this is an indicator that they have been properly stored. All egg cartons have a pack date. Grading of eggs is just one of the many steps that egg farmers take to ensure the safety and quality of eggs. Click here to download the Julian calendar for 2014. But as long … Today's consumers must decipher a variety of dates on grocery products. A “Sell By” or “Expiration Date” ensures eggs aren’t kept on shelves past a certain date. "Use-by," "sell-by," and "best-if-consumed-by" dates are guidelines for how long the food item is considered fresh or safe. There are three codes on your egg carton – the pack date, the expiration date, and the plant code. Every day, people stop and stare at egg displays at the supermarket. There are so many different labels on eggs these days, it’s difficult to know which ones are the best. 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. This date usually appears as a 3 digit code using the Julian date calendar. On cartons with the USDA grademark, this date can not exceed 30 days after the eggs were packed in the carton. 2. The Julian date is the “pack date,” when the eggs were washed, graded and place in the carton. 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. Question: Are eggs safe to eat after the Use By or Sell By date has expired? How to Decode Your Egg Carton. On the side of your egg carton, right by (or below) the “Sell By” date, you’ll see a three-digit code. The cost aside, because there is a fair cost difference per egg depending on the size of the carton you buy, let’s just talk about the freshness and safety aspect. January 1 is 001, and December 31 is 365 (except in a leap year). “Once the date has passed, the egg loses its peak quality based on shelf life studies and consumer test preferences,” he explains. The words “Best Before” must be used. Eggs may only come in one shape, but Sprouts has numerous options to choose from. You'll usually find it on one of the ends, near the sell-by date or expiration date. You'd rather buy fresh ones right? Eggs and other dairy products are temperature sensitive. But just because an egg has passed its date does not always mean it has gone bad. Many egg cartons … Adding eggs to a healthy diet is a great idea, but buying eggs at the store can be really confusing. Best before date - The "best before" date does not guarantee product safety, but it does give you information about the freshness and potential shelf-life of the unopened food you are buying. The date is usually just an indicator of the egg’s freshness. There are so many different labels on eggs these days, it’s difficult to know which ones are the best. "Use-by," "sell-by," and "best-if-consumed-by" dates are guidelines for how long the food item is considered fresh or safe. This is 3-digit date, in the Julian calendar format. The USDA requires that the date be no more than 30 days after the eggs were packed. Regular eggs contain about 30 mgs of Omega-3 per egg, but Omega-3-enhanced eggs contain 100 mg to more than 600 mg per egg because the hens are fed a special diet of canola, linseed and flax seed. The USDA Grade on Egg Cartons: What Does It Mean? Where The Eggs Were Packaged. However, eggs can be safely eaten 2-3 weeks beyond the expiration date or sell by date. Many eggs reach stores only a few days after being laid. Egg Carton Labels Can Be Confusing! You can get an idea of how fresh your eggs are by checking the Julian date. It allows consumers to distinguish free range eggs and organic farming eggs from the industrial caged hen production. 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. “Julian Date”. Not so anymore! It marks the day of the year the the eggs were placed in the carton. Once upon a time, when you went to the store to buy eggs you had two choices: white eggs or brown eggs. The numbers should be somewhere between 001 to 365, and refer to the specific day in the 365 calendar year that your eggs were harvested. Be used refrigerated case expiration date sometimes longer when you went to day. 'Ve had milk that stayed safe to be thrown out as soon as the egg itself used... News on egg cartons with the USDA grade shield, the date eggs... 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