I believe the reason that many manufacturers have gone to cryptic expiration dates is very simple. I work in the grocery/foodservice industry and I have noticed that if expiration dates are easily read or deciphered, people will almost always grab the freshest ones they can, leaving the older ones there, even though they are still good, but that means that the store will most likely have to throw those older ones out, causing the stores spoilage index to go up. In certain things I can see people wanting fresher, like milk for instance, so it will keep longer in their refrigerators, but seriously folks, if it's still within code, most likely it's good.

They ought to sponsor a bill to make these illegal. They're obviously designed to keep product on the shelf as long as possible, often times to the detriment of both the consumer and retailer. The consumer because they don't know that the hell is going on. The retailer because they have to keep track of all of these codes which leads to mistakes being made. (I know of no retailer who purposefully keeps expired products on the shelf.)

@LandruBek:

I think Shock's intent was to point out that an expired candybar won't hurt you. While yes, you might worry about buying an expired, unpalatable bit of candy, you shouldn't worry too much about keeping them around past the expiry.

Truth is, an expired candybar probably isn't going to be unpalatable, either. M&Ms are good for ~6 months beyond the shelf-life, if sealed.

@erikislame: It's insane that you think the government actually regulates things for YOUR benefit and not theirs.

Yes "5" means 2005

they will become unpalatable before they become unsafe to eat.

@erikislame: The FDA doesn't have anything to do with the selling food in retail locations. The FDA regulates the production of food at production facilities (factories). States regulate the sale of food at retail facilities.

I don't understand those single digit year codes.

It's so insane that this is even allowed by the FDA. Ugh.