Can You Eat It After the Date on the Label?

I was amazed by a recent report that claims that nearly forty percent of the food produced in the United States never gets eaten. I would say I can’t believe it, but if I think about what we throw away in our own house, (and we actually compost most of our food waste in the back yard) this means that food waste is a big problem in the United States. A number of factors contribute to this situation. But according to a recent report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Harvard Law and Policy Clinic, confusing food date labels play a significant role.

More than 90 percent of Americans might be throwing away food because they confuse date labels on food with expiration dates, according to an industry survey. The report explains that the idea that dates on food packaging relate to food safety is largely a myth. In addition, the system to standardize those labels is not well-regulated. Most manufacturers use their own methods for determining which labels to use. “Sell by” “use by,” and “best before” are frequently intended by manufacturers for use by retailers. And sometimes they are only meant to indicate when a food will be at its peak of freshness, not necessarily when it will no longer be suitable for consumption.

The report’s authors suggest a number of ways to improve the food-labeling system that would help reduce consumer confusion and reduce the amount of food wasted.  First of all, they recommend making “sell by” dates only visible to businesses, and establishing more uniform labeling terminology. Manufacturers could easily adopt these practices themselves, but the NRDC indicates that the government may need to take steps to solve this problem as well.

Emily Broad Leib was lead author of the report and is the director of Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic. She claims “We need a standardized, commonsense date labeling system that actually provides useful information to consumers, rather than the unreliable, inconsistent and piecemeal system we have today.” A solution to this problem would be for food industry leaders and policymakers, who really are the most influential date label enforcers, to create and establish a new system that better serves consumers and the environment.

As a consumer, you can help reduce food waste by ensuring your food is stored properly. Limit the amount of time perishable food spends outside the refrigerator as it is what really leads to spoilage. To learn more, check out the NRDC’s handy guide (in PDF format) for properly using your refrigerator.

Boyd Leake is a Buckhead native and the founder and owner of Community Environmental. Since 1995 he has been an environmental and sustainability consultant with an emphasis on recycling, composting and “green” solid waste management.