Infant formula use-by dates: check before buying and before use

Record the date on the actual container

USDA explicitly advises not buying or using formula after its use-by date. FDA explains the required date on formula. Check the item you receive rather than relying only on a listing photograph, especially when buying several containers together.

Separate unopened dating from opening instructions

A use-by date is not the only handling limit. Read the manufacturer instructions that apply after opening and any specific guidance on the product. An opening-date note does not extend the printed use-by date.

Plan a purchase without calculating a child’s needs

Before a bulk purchase, compare the dates offered with the quantity you genuinely intend to buy under your existing feeding plan. We do not calculate how much formula a child needs or certify that a stockpile will be used safely. A recall or packaging concern must be resolved independently of the date.

Before you decide

• Check each container’s date.
• Keep opening instructions separate.
• Never use a discount as a reason to ignore the use-by date.