Many consumers in the United States discard edible food because they misinterpret package labeling. While these labels often suggest a deadline for safety, they frequently only indicate a peak in product quality.
The 80% waste trend identified by Johns Hopkins
A 2019 study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health revealed a staggering statistic: over 80% of consumers in the United States discard food simply because it is nearing its package date. This behavior suggests that a significant portion of the nation's food supply is being thrown away while still perfectly edible.. This trend is not just a matter of individual household loss; it represents a massive systemic inefficiency that contributes to both economic waste and environmental strain.
When millions of tons of edible food are discarded annually, it exacerbates the global struggle to manage food security and resource allocation. The economic impact on the average household is also significant, as preventable waste translates directly into lost grocery budgets.
Why Rutgers and San Francisco experts distinguish quality from safety
The core of the confusion lies in the distinction between how long a food tastes good and how long it is safe to eat. As the report notes, food safety experts like Donald Schaffner of Rutgers University clarify that most date labels are intended to guarantee quality, not safety. This means the date marks the point where a product's texture, flavor, or appearance might begin to decline, rather than the moment it becomes toxic.
Rachel Zemser, a food scientist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, reinforces this by explaining that these dates reflect when a product's quality reaches its peak. While shelf-stable items like canned goods can often remain safe for years beyond their labeled dates, perishables like meat require much more scrutiny. To manage these risks, experts suggest that instead of relying solely on the date, consumers should practice food stock rotation—using older items first—and use personal judgment by checking for signs of spoilage, such as unusual odors or textures.
California's ban on "sell by" dates
To combat this widespread misunderstanding, California has taken legislative action to standardize how food is labeled. The state has officially banned the use of "sell by" dates, which often confuse consumers into thinking the food is unsafe the moment the date passes.. Instead, California now requires labels to use more specific terminology , such as "Best If Used By" or "Use By."
This shift aims to provide clearer guidance to the public by differentiating between quality and safety. The "Best If Used By" label typically indicates a quality peak, whereas "Use By" is more closely associated with safety. By moving away from the ambiguous "sell by" phrasing, the state hopes to reduce the volume of edible food being tossed by households that mistake a retailer's inventory deadline for a consumer safety deadline.
The infant formula mandate and lingering regulatory gaps
Despite the variety of labels used for most groceries, infant formula is currently the only product in the United States legally required to have an expiration date. This requirement exists because the nutritional value of formula can decline over time,making the date a matter of actual safety rather than just quality.
However, several questions remain regarding the broader regulatory landscape. It is unclear why other highly perishable categories are not subject to similar mandatory safety dating, leaving much of the responsibility to the consumer. Furthermore, as more states potentially follow California's lead,it remains to be seen whether standardized labeling will actually succeed in changing the 80% waste habit or if consumer skepticism will persist. There is also the question of whether retailers will adopt these standards nationwide to avoid the confusion caused by varying state laws.
Comments 0