YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - 'Sell by,' 'best by' and 'best if used by' are all common expiration labels used.

The Food and Drug Administration wants to make it a little easier with a new guidance issued Thursday urging companies to use  'best if used by' on packaging.

"I think it's a great idea to standardize it so that we can be able to educate our patients and our clients on what to kind of look for," said Katheryn Cathcart, Lead Dietitian at St. Joseph Hospital Mercy Health.

She explained that the term 'sell by' is more for the retailers use as a guideline for when to take the product off the shelf.

 The term 'best by" she said is more about quality.

"It's not about the expiration of the food, but about the peak freshness."

She said consumers must use their own judgment when deciding whether or not to eat the food.

"It's a little bit easier with cretin foods like dairy or meat just because it gives off an odor and there is a change in coloration. Now processed foods like boxed foods, that's going to last a lot longer past that 'best if used by' date. "