No, the date on the cheese is the manufacturing date.

Vella Cheese is very appropriate for many special diets. LOW SALT CONTENT
Consistent with quality and flavor, we use the minimum amount of salt, approximately 1% by volume.
NO GROWTH HORMONES
Vella Cheese has used milk from Merten's Dairy for more than 20 years. No growth hormones are given to Merten's cows.
NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS
Our cheeses are made with vegetable coagulant--not animal rennet.
GLUTEN-INTOLERANT OR ALLERGIC TO FOOD ADDITIVES? Other than salt and vegetable rennet, our only other additive is the orange colorant derived from the annato seed that we use in our Sharp, Garlic, and Jalapeño cheddar cheeses.
LOW CARB: Our cheeses have less than 0.6 total carbohydrates per ounce.

No, the ink we use is USDA-accepted (the same ink used for meat branding) and is safe to eat.

If your cheese develops some mold, don't throw it away. Just cut off the mold and enjoy the rest of your cheese. All cheese molds are penicillin-based and will not harm you.

Mezzo Secco is a partially dry Jack, only 3-4 months old. It has a higher fat content to ensure a rich, creamy piece of cheese, making it the easiest of the Dry Jacks to slice or cut
Dry Jack is between 7 and 9 months of age. It is excellent for eating with crackers, bread, fruit, and even alone.
Special Select is aged up to 2 years. It is a fine grating or shredding cheese for pasta or salads, or a fin eating cheese with crackers, fruit, or by itself. Many people use Special Select instead of grated Parmesan.
Our Oro Secco cheese is aged a full two years. Vella's Oro Secco recently won the 2010 Best of Class in the Hard Cheese Category at the California State Fair, along with other awards.

When you receive your cheese it may be soft from shipping. Simply place it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to firm up before unwrapping and handling. If it is a larger chunk, cut down into smaller (1/2 - 1 pound) pieces and tightly wrap each in plastic and then store in an airtight container or ziplock bag. All types of cheeses will last longest if stored in the refrigerator.