We’ve all
done it: tossed an “expired” package of deli meat or a half-used gallon of
milk past its “use by” date. But are these foods really spoiled or are we
simply throwing away money? The USDA, which determines food labeling
standards, is beginning to realize the confusion these labels can cause among 90
percent of consumers, and the role labeling plays in the $29 billion worth of
food wasted at the consumer level each year.
It’s easy to
get confused when terms like “use by” and “best before” sound similar,
especially when there isn’t a uniform system required by food companies and
labeling laws vary from state to state. In reality, product dating actually
indicates a food’s peak quality— not safety. In fact, many foods can
surpass these dates by weeks or even months if stored properly.
So, what is
the solution to this confusion? Thankfully, the Food Date Labeling Act of 2016
has recently been presented to Congress and is aimed at establishing
requirements for food quality and safety dating. The Act suggests the
introduction of a voluntary “quality date” and uniform “safety date” on all
ready-to-eat foods. The suggested phrases include “best if used by” for the
quality date, and “expires on” for the safety date. The Act will
also require that
consumer education and outreach begin no later than one year after the
implementation of the new food labels.
Bottom Line:
The inaccurate food date labeling we currently have in place in the U.S. causes
a substantial amount of confusion and an unnecessary amount of food waste each
year. For more information on food product dating and food storage
recommendations, check out the USDA website. If you want to contact your
elected representative to support food quality versus safety labeling changes,
you can find them here.
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