Of course, food companies have some incentives encouraging them to keep the dates early and confusing: * If some food is beyond a date printed on the box, and

Of course, food companies have some incentives encouraging them to keep the dates early and confusing: * If some food is beyond a date printed on the box, and someone gets sick, the person eating it thinks it's their fault for eating it past the date. * If some food is eaten, and it just isn't good, the company has an out in saying that the food is past its date -- the initial reason for "best by" dates. * People throwing out more food means that people buy more food.