sell-by date
/ˈsel.baɪ deɪt/
Meaning
A sell-by date is a date printed on a food product that tells the store how long to display the product for sale. It is not a safety deadline for eating the food, but rather a guide for retailers to manage their stock. Food is usually still safe to eat for a few days after this date if stored properly.
Examples
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The milk is on sale because it's reaching its sell-by date tomorrow.
The milk is on sale because it's reaching its sell-by date tomorrow.
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Stores must remove items from the shelves once they pass their sell-by date.
Stores must remove items from the shelves once they pass their sell-by date.
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Even if a product is past its sell-by date, it might still be perfectly fine to eat.
Even if a product is past its sell-by date, it might still be perfectly fine to eat.
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I always reach to the back of the shelf to find the item with the furthest sell-by date.
I always reach to the back of the shelf to find the item with the furthest sell-by date.
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The sell-by date is mostly for the grocery store's inventory control, not the consumer.
The sell-by date is mostly for the grocery store's inventory control, not the consumer.
Common Mistakes
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✗ I can't eat this cake because the sell date is today.
✓ I can't eat this cake because the sell-by date is today.
The correct compound noun is 'sell-by date', which includes the preposition 'by'.
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✗ The sell-by date means the food is unsafe after that day.
✓ The sell-by date means the store should stop selling it after that day.
Do not confuse 'sell-by date' with 'expiration date'. The sell-by date is for inventory management, and the food is usually still safe to eat for a short time afterward.
Related Expressions
Practice
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Supermarkets often discount meat that is close to its ___.
💡 The date by which a store must sell a product.
Show answer
sell-by date
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Don't panic if the bread is past its ___; it still looks and smells fresh.
💡 The inventory date printed for retailers, not consumers.
Show answer
sell-by date