TLDR: US households waste 37% of food, often due to misunderstanding labels indicating freshness, not safety. Experts call for standardized labels to reduce waste.
This article is a summary of a You Tube video “Food expiration dates don’t mean what you think” by TED-Ed
Key Takeaways:
- High Food Waste: The United States is one of the largest contributors to food waste, with 37% of it coming from households.
- Misinterpretation of Dates: Approximately 20% of household food waste is due to consumers misunderstanding the meaning of date labels on food.
- Safety vs. Freshness: The dates on food items often indicate peak freshness rather than safety, and many foods are safe to consume past these dates.
- Historical Context: Before supermarkets, people relied on their senses to judge food freshness. Date labeling emerged as processed foods became more common.
- Open Dating System: Initiated in the 1970s, this system indicates optimum freshness rather than expiration, with little scientific basis for the chosen dates.
- Food Longevity: Many foods, including shelf-stable items, canned goods, and frozen dinners, remain safe to eat well beyond their labeled dates.
- Exceptions to Safety: Certain products, like meat, ready-to-eat salads, and unpasteurized cheeses, should be consumed by their dates to avoid health risks.
- Consumer Confusion: Over 70% of Americans rely on date labels to determine edibility, contributing to unnecessary waste.
- Advocacy for Standardization: Experts suggest standardizing date labels to “Best if used by” for freshness and “Use by” for safety to reduce waste.
- Government and Retailer Actions: Policies encouraging donation of unsold food and removing date labels on produce could further reduce waste.
