The British system *is* more sensible, because it specifies a directly readable expiration date, IIRC. However, most expiration dates are are not remotely intended as hard 'Use by' limits They are set by manufacturers for reasons unrelated to safety, ranging from 'Best if served by' dates to enahnce a brand's reputation for flavor or texture to bboosting sales (I've see manufacturers tighten expiration dates to encourage stock turnover and relax them later).
Expiration Dates
Julian Expiration Codes List List
All condoms, the FDA says, have either an expiration or a manufacturing date. They should not be used beyond the expiration date -- more than five years after the date of manufacture. To read food expiration date codes, learn the different types of dates used for expiration codes. Determine if the code is using letters for months, the Julian calendar or a month-day-year code.