Be an informed consumer and learn to read the codes stamped on the ends of egg cartons. Not only will you get the freshest eggs at the supermarket but also you'll know when a carton has expired in your refrigerator.
1. Pick up your egg carton and locate the "sell-by" date. This example shows JUN1. The U.S. Department of Agriculture mandates that eggs be sold within 30 days of being graded and packed—but they are edible for three to five weeks past their sell-by date.
2. Locate the three-digit Julian dated code above or below the sell-by date. On this carton, it is 124. Numbers represent consecutive days on the calendar—001 is January 1 and 365 is December 31. This carton was graded and packed on May 3, 2004.
Notice the 1292A code to the right of the 124 Pack Date. This is the egg packer's internal code and not consumer related.
