Definition of open dating

expiration date understandably stated up front on a retail-packaged food item subject to deterioration to aid consumers in determining the product's useful life. Open dating is a relatively recent consumer marketing practice.

consumer protection practice involving the use of "sell by" or other package dates that can be easily interpreted by the average consumer. Prior to open-dating, manufacturers used codes that could be interpreted only by the retailer or distributor. Open dating enables the consumer to evaluate the freshness or remaining useful life of the product.