You want the FDA to sit around and decide when a box of crackers is too stale to be tasty?

Why can't the FDA mandate labelling from a narrow range of options?

"Use by" for food that will cause illness if eaten after that date; "best before" for food that becomes less tasty but not dangerous after that date.

(http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/food-labelling-ter...)

As a practical matter, I don't think a set of similar sounding but technically different definitions will change consumer behavior. It could even say "totally safe but slightly less delicious" and I bet most people would throw it out.

I'd prefer the FDA just make sure that information printed on food be based on facts. I think its reasonable to expect a regulatory body to enforce a certain level of honesty and accountability within its domain.