Do You Eat “Expired” Food?
Have you ever gone to make dinner only to discover that the pound of meat you had planned to use was past its “Best by” date? What did you do? Did you cook it anyway? Did you throw it away?
Unfortunately, more and more Americans have opted for the later, choosing to throw away their food and their money rather than consume “expired” items. The problem is, these items aren’t really “expired” at all. The term “expired” doesn’t really mean what we think it does. It’s actually just a guess.
Most consumers are shocked to discover that currently there is no clear or required system for labeling food freshness and quality in America. While there are some guidelines, for the most part manufacturers and grocers are on their own to decide what and how to display information regarding food quality, freshness, and safety. Consequently, consumers are left on their own to figure those systems out. However, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and Food Marketing Institute (FMI) have decided it is time for a change.
The Current Labeling System Is All Over the Place
Currently, there are over a dozen different labels used by the food industry to indicate the freshness of products such as meat, dairy, and eggs. Labels include “Best by,” “Expires on,” “Better if used by,” “Sell by, ” and many more. Plus, there are no regulations governing what labels are put on which products and what these phrases even mean.
In fact, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) clearly indicates that there are no rules or requirements for most products. They state on their website:
Except for infant formula, product dating is not required by Federal regulations.
For meat, poultry, and egg products under the jurisdiction of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), dates may be voluntarily applied provided they are labeled in a manner that is truthful and not misleading and in compliance with FSIS regulations1. To comply, a calendar date must express both the month and day of the month. In the case of shelf-stable and frozen products, the year must also be displayed. Additionally, immediately adjacent to the date must be a phrase explaining the meaning of that date such as “Best if Used By.”
The problem is, because of this lack of standardization, these phrases don’t actually “mean” anything. Plus, since there’s no system indicating what to label with which phrase, their meanings shift from product to product and brand to brand. Ultimately, the relevant level of “freshness” these labels supposedly indicate is just really a fancy guess.
Furthermore, the FSIS clearly explains that these dates are used to indicate quality only. With the exception of infant formula, no date on a package of food speaks to its safety. At least, not in a legal sense.
Introducing Two New, Clear Labels
The number one priority of the new GMA/FMI initiative is consistency. Therefore, their member organizations have decided to ditch the creative labelling in favor of two universal and clear messages. They are:
- BEST if Used by: this indicates product quality only. Items labeled “BEST if Used by” are still safe to consume after their dates.
- USE by: this indicates product safety. “USE by” will only apply to select, highly-perishable products with a short shelf life. These products should be disposed of after their date.
While using these new labels is voluntary and industry-led, the GMA and FMI are optimistic about its adoption. As FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Saracen explains, “While we all need nourishment, both retailers and manufacturers also want consumers to have the best experience possible in their stores and consuming their products.”
Indeed, so far the response has been positive among top food industry names. For example, Frank Yiannas, Vice President of Food Safety & Health for Walmart has already endorsed the changes. He stated that Walmart is “delighted with this industry-wide, collaborative initiative that will provide consistency, simplify consumers’ lives, and reduce food waste in homes across America.”
Currently, GMA and FMI suggest that these labels are immediately phased into use. They then urge for widespread adoption to be complete by the summer of 2018.
We Waste Nearly a Quarter of Our Food Each Year
A 2013 study from the World Resources Institute revealed a startling fact about food waste: nearly 1 of every 4 calories produced for consumption is thrown away. That means about 222 million tons of food, worth about $1 trillion goes into a landfill each year. These global statistics are clearly startling, but more revealing is that here in the United States we contribute more than our fair share to food waste. In fact, the USDA estimates that Americans waste some 30-40% of their food supply each year. That is the same as saying that we throw away 20 pounds of food per person, per month.
The environmental and social implications of food waste are enormous. However, even on a personal basis, this issue is important to consider. For starters, if you are trying to reduce your grocery bill, eliminating waste is job #1. Why? Because the more you actually consume, the less you need to buy.
Clearly, there is plenty of incentive to reduce food waste in any way we can. The GMA and FMI hope these labels will revolutionize the way we think about food before throwing it away. Here at LRWC, we hope they’re right.