We throw out a lot of food. And according to a new report, much of that food gets tossed because of confusion over the use-by dates that are featured prominently on many of our favorite consumables. Most of these dates are really suggestions about when a product is at its peak. Food that stays in your cupboard or fridge past these dates is not necessarily bad, and almost never dangerous: “Eggs, for example, can be consumed three to five weeks after purchase, even though the ‘use by’ date is much earlier. A box of mac-and-cheese stamped with a ‘use by’ date of March 2013 can still be enjoyed on March 2014, most likely with no noticeable changes in quality.” And it probably won’t be half bad in March of 3014.

+ More from MoJo: You just threw out a perfectly good gallon of milk because you think the “sell by” date means something.

+ From Buzzfeed: 21 ways supermarkets control your mind.