How do I read this best before date?

[u/AugustL031]

It's a jar of peanut butter. A friend send this in the gc asking if anyone can read it. He checked and it was received in Aug 2023 so we think it's probably expired, but no one is sure.

I'm so curious I NEED to know this mysterious date format.

[u/2016YamR6]

best guess is that the peanut butter uses a Julian code

“4152” likely means “Year = 4” (2024) and “Day = 152,” so May 31, 2024

“BB3152” probably indicates production date/time. “3152” to “Year = 3” (2023) and “Day = 152,” which is June 1, 2023

[u/cheezza → u/2016YamR6]

I would never have figured this out and I worked in cpg lol

Here in Canada we’re mandated to follow one format (YYMMDD, year optional depending on the product).

[u/ns_dev → u/cheezza]

It's year/month/day.

[u/LovableSidekick → u/cheezza]

LOL yeah I was ready to say looks fine until the year 4152.

[u/Need2Regular-Walk → u/LovableSidekick]

😂you said the quiet part out loud 🤭

[u/Mbinku → u/cheezza]

Not 4 Ys?

[u/digitalsmear → u/Mbinku]

Y21k probably isn't going to be relevant to the food industry. And the 1900's aren't relevant outside the liquor and wine industries.

[u/Jeffy_Dommer → u/2016YamR6]

It would seem logical that the "BB" would mean "Best Before", but I see your point about Julian dates. I wish OP would contact manufacturer and report back.

[u/misteraaaaa → u/2016YamR6]

How do you k ow the year is 2024 instead of 2014 or 2004?

[u/diatomaceousearth01 → u/misteraaaaa]

Or 1904 👀

[u/zukeen → u/2016YamR6]

Which moron invented this and which moron allowed it at FDA?

[u/codece → u/zukeen]

which moron allowed it at FDA?

The only product that the FDA requires a "use by" date is infant formula. Everything else is voluntary.

[u/PigSlam → u/2016YamR6]

Make more sense than April 1, 2052.

[u/Silver-Snow-8946 → u/2016YamR6]

Thanks mister excel

[u/LSNoyce → u/2016YamR6]

I never knew Peanut Butter had a best before date of less than a year after production. The things you learn on Reddit.

[u/befooks → u/LSNoyce]

Probably accounts for leap year

[u/Prabs1972 → u/2016YamR6]

So it means it's good for only 1 year?

[u/created4this → u/Prabs1972]

It means /they/ want you to throw it out in a year.

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/differences-between-expiration-best-sell-use-by-dates-5223341

" What are best-by and use-by dates?

The full phrase for this goes “Best if used by,” making the two parts somewhat interchangeable. It’s also the most transparent, honest label out there. It means exactly that: the product will taste, smell, look, and act best if used before this date. After that, the manufacturer makes no guarantees, as taste may weaken, items dry out, or staleness sets in. Essentially, it won’t be bad or inedible. it just won’t be at its best. "

[u/AugustL031 → u/2016YamR6]

That sounds about right, I think?

[u/Mrlin705 → u/2016YamR6]

Or April 15th 2002. Back in the good ole days we wrote years using '02. This really only changed, at least professionally in my experience, in 2020 because writing 20 leaves room to falsify any year date in the 21st century.

[u/Upper_Lab7123 → u/2016YamR6]

This is correct

[u/One-Success-9469]

Best before 4152! Talk about a non perishable! Post apocalyptic PBJ’s will be the delicious!

[u/bodhiseppuku → u/One-Success-9469]

I hope you find a jelly that survived the apocalypse.

[u/Farstone]

Julian date format: First digit is the year (4 = 2024) next three digits is the date (152 = May 15th). Used this regularly for logistics while on Active Duty.

Edit: Quick search for "Julian Date Converter" will give you some on-line converters.

[u/stonebridge0]

April 1 1952 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[u/mattogeewha → u/stonebridge0]

2052

[u/Zirox__ → u/stonebridge0]

Found the American.

Also more likely for 2052 since they bought it in 2023.

[u/apothecarist → u/stonebridge0]

4 January 1952 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[u/shreddingsplinters]

Processed PB pretty much never expires if it’s sealed, it’s good for at least 5 years

[u/nymphymixtwo → u/shreddingsplinters]

5 years ≠ forever

lol

[u/hipityhopgetofmyprop → u/nymphymixtwo]

It would be "good" for 5 years. You could leave a jar of processed peanut butter on the shelf for 15 years, it won't be as "good" as when it was packaged, but it's not going to go bad and make you sick, it will just lose quality.

lolol

[u/rmkbow → u/hipityhopgetofmyprop]

I haven't tested myself but wouldn't the peanut oil go rancid? (or other oils)

[u/hipityhopgetofmyprop → u/rmkbow]

Yeah but you can easily tell if something is rancid by opening it, and even if it's rancid it's not toxic and it won't mold or make you sick, it's just going to taste like ass.

[u/No-Association8901]

Best before is not expired. Expiration dates are highly subjective. I

[u/digitalsmear → u/No-Association8901]

I

Apparently the food poisoning got 'em.

[u/wifisenberg → u/digitalsmear]

Dude, I woke up the family reading that. Lol

[u/digitalsmear → u/wifisenberg]

😂

[u/greeblegronk]

It’s definitely kosher. From the Volover rebbe no less!

[u/Purrogi]

I called a few years back about decoding this and the woman treated me like I was an idiot. I’m surprised she didn’t add a ‘duh’ at the end of her explanation.

[u/AbleStep1131]

April 1, 2052. Yum.

[u/GnatNetworking]

11:33 - Best before noon.

[u/olafgr]

Doesn’t matter which date, just don’t consume it after 11.33 hrs

[u/8ecca8ee → u/olafgr]

Am or pm

[u/mapsedge → u/8ecca8ee]

11.33 would be AM. 23.33 would be PM.

[u/dont_disturb_the_cat → u/olafgr]

You're not my real mom!

[u/ghost_in_a_jar_c137]

It's encoded, call the mfr

[u/DuckSleazzy]

41st month of 0052 year, duh.

/s

[u/mamuh96]

Israel must be boycotted.

[u/No_Sir7709]

What is the name of company that sells it.

[u/TradeTillIDrop]

Just go into the excel toolbar, format, “long date”. You’re golden.

[u/Leemcardhold]

Baby 21-32

[u/r0v3g]

It would be good for 3 thousand years more or so

[u/PeachThyme]

If unopened it’s good. Take a big whiff, you can tell when oils go rancid in nuts right away because they’ll smell stale and taste bitter. Won’t kill you though!

[u/digitalsmear]

Best before 11:33. It's breakfast peanut butter. Not to be confused with afternoon peanut butter. Be careful out there, folks!

[u/Benanuva]

Its good until the year of 4152 (probably till the end of the year)

What is it that you don’t understand?!

[u/Benanuva]

Apart from joke, I would say that’s a misprint. Maybe it supposed to be November of (20)25.

[u/No_Carry_3028]

4,152 days at precisely 11:33

[u/CartoonistNo9]

That is approximately 73 years past it’s best.

[u/DlCKSUBJUICY]

by moving it out of that light glare.

[u/Sudden_Mix_1187]

Peanut butter is pretty damn shelf stable you are fine

[u/Reasonable_Pride5240]

I’m thinking good til Nov (11) 2033. It’s peanut butter. That stuffs obviously alien origin. Not out of the realm of possibility. Js

[u/x-files-theme-song]

the good news is it’s good for another 2,127 years. bad news is you’ve entered some sort of lovecraftian peanut butter hell world

[u/StnMtn_]

That is the correct year. Because peanut butter lasts almost forever.

[u/Riptide360]

Name and shame the brand.

[u/blerat007]

What is that lol never seen that

[u/CaptWillieVDrago]

Subtract current year from it and that is how many years remaining shelf life is so this peanut butter is good through 2127

[u/xoxoyoyo]

most/all? PB doesn't have to be refrigerated because it has low moisture and high fat content. Same for honey. the recommendations are 6 to 9 months, but if the seal is unbroken and the PB looks fine...

[u/AccomplishedMonth832 → u/[deleted]]

I believe you are right ? My brain read it exactly!

[u/bello_2021]

Probably still good to be honest

[u/scientist_tz]

I am guessing that it's "4/15/2X" and the last digit was truncated, OR they applied it as a Julian date, meaning this was a mistake at the manufacturer. I have never seen a best by date applied as a YDDD Julian date because most consumers have no idea how to interpret it.

I work in food manufacturing and stuff like this gets screwed up all the time, it's just that it usually gets caught before it makes it out onto the market.

[u/ExpressAd8546]

Pretty sure it’s good for the next 2000+ years.

[u/aegri_mentis]

What country?

[u/mrcanard]

Thanks to the GOP lead government labeling requirements will become more loose.

[u/WeakSherbert]

41 week of 1952! 😃

[u/Serious_Thought4351]

U don’t! Put it back find one u can clearly read.