The last couple of weeks there has been a lady outside one of the local convenience type drugstores handing out FREE breads, rolls, etc. from one of the big baking factories in my area. I stopped one night and asked where or how she came by her bounty she was giving away for free. She explained that the bakery could no longer sell it, but it would still be good for quite a while and of course could be frozen for future use. I gladly accepted several assorted loaves and sandwich breads.
Last week she was there again with her bounty of bread, but this time a police officer was there to arrest her. Not because the bread was stolen, because it wasn’t, but because she was handing out “expired” bread. I guess locally here...you can’t even donate expired bread to the food pantry.
As noted I am using the word ‘expired,’ but for bread it is often a best buy date that is in question.
That is usually a sell by date, not a use by date
Several stores in Texas sell “old” food... look up “Scratch & Dent” grocery stores.