Closed or coded dates are packing numbers used by the manufacturer. They might appear on shelf-stable products such as cans and boxes of food. These codes, which appear as a series of letters/numbers, might refer to the date or time of manufacture.

What is a code date on food?

This number is a three-digit code that represents the consecutive day of the year starting with January 1 as 001 and ending with December 31 as 365. When a sell-by date appears on a carton bearing the USDA grade shield, the code date may not exceed 30 days from the date of pack.

How do you read a Closed or coded date?

Read the numbers after the letter as the date of the month and the year in which the item was produced.For example, if a code reads “D1519,” that means April 15, 2019.Many products might have a closed code as well as an open-date code.

What is a closed code date?

Closed or coded dates are packing numbers used by the manufacturer. They might appear on shelf-stable products such as cans and boxes of food. These codes, which appear as a series of letters/numbers, might refer to the date or time of manufacture. They arent meant for the consumer to interpret as use-by dates.

What is an open date code?

Open Dating (use of a calendar date as opposed to a code) on a food product is a date stamped on a products package to help the store determine how long to display the product for sale. It can also help the purchaser to know the time limit to purchase or use the product at its best quality. It is not a safety date.