Do canned foods have expiration dates?

Canned foods do have expiration dates; however, this date does not necessarily mean that the product has gone bad. Canned foods can last up to five years depending on the contents, according to the USDA.

Food products use four different types of dating. A sell-by date tells the store how long to keep that product on the shelf. A best-if-used-by date is a recommendation of quality for the product's best taste. A use-by date is the last possible date for use of the product. Closed or coded dates are used by the manufacturer of the product. As long as canned food is stored properly, the quality can exceed the given expiration date.