What does the date on your milk carton say?

If that date has come and gone and you’re still drinking that milk, you should probably toss it before you pour your next glass.

Dates on food can be confusing to some people though. Not only do you see a “use by” date, but you’ve probably seen a “best if used by” date, “sell by” date and “expiration” date.

So which dates should consumers be concerned with the most?

Well, probably all of them, but here’s some clarification.

Travis Waller, director of regulatory services for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, said the “sell by” date is generally used to inform the retailer how much time they have to sell the product and how long it should sit on their shelves.

The “best if used by” date comes from the manufacture. It means the food will be at its freshest and have the best taste if you eat it by this date.

The “use by” date suggests if you don’t consume the food by the date stated on the package, its taste and texture probably isn’t going to be very good.

“The ‘use by’ date is commonly used as a drop-dead date for any type of food,” Waller said. “If you haven’t used the food by this date, you could be facing a food quality or even a food safety issue.”

The expiration date is meant to inform consumers about the length of safety in the product before it becomes a health concern. This doesn’t just mean “When in doubt, throw it out.” It means, throw it out if the expiration date has passed.

“I wouldn’t keep food past the expiration date for several reasons,” Waller said. “For example, in a perfect world, milk would be kept at a constant 41 degrees, but that’s just not the case. You don’t know how long the food has been treated up to the point of sale. Once you take it out of the fridge and set it in your cart it starts to cool down. Then it sits in your car on the way home. Some people make one or two stops on the way home, allowing the food to sit even longer.”

Waller said once an expiration date has passed, the longer a food is kept, the more likely it is to start growing bacteria and other pathogens that can make people very sick, such as Listeria monocytogenes.

Michelle Cooke, a licensed environmental scientist and food program manager at the Weber-Morgan Health Department, said with lunch meat, for instance, after you have opened it, you should consume it within seven days. Also, check it for an unappealing odor. If it smells bad, throw it away.

With chicken, beef or fish, Cooke said not to take it out of the fridge until you are ready to prepare it. Leaving meat out on the counter to thaw is never a good idea.

Waller said as far as eating leftovers are concerned, he would recommend consuming the food in the next three to four days.

“The food code says seven days after it’s been cooked, but I would recommend three to four days to be completely safe,” he said.

If your canned food has a dent, it depends on where the dent is. Cooke and Waller said if the dent has dimples or creases, there might be a small pin hole in the can and you can run into problems with botulism. Also, if it’s a sharp dent or the seam or lid is dented or rusty, get rid of it.

As far as frozen food is concerned, Waller said as long as you get rid of excess water before you freeze it, it should last up to a year without getting freezer burn.

And last but not least, both experts said to keep hot food hot, cold food cold, don’t cross contaminate raw meats with other foods, and wash your hands before preparing food.

Still concerned? Here are a few foot notes:

• Eggs have a 35-day shelf life. Keep them in the back of the fridge and not inside the door.

• Lunch meat should be consumed within seven days after opening.