Food Labels and Best By Dates - Understanding them All
You’re about to eat food from your pantry or refrigerator and you see the label - sell by, use by, expires on, best before, or best by – and to your surprise, that day was yesterday… or maybe even a week ago! So, what do you do?
Food spoilage, whether real or perceived, is one of the biggest reasons people throw out food. It’s assumed that approximately 80 percent of Americans discard perfectly good, consumable food simply because they misunderstand expiration labels.
However, when it comes to produce there’s no “best by” or “use by” labels; we use our senses. We look at it, we smell it, we squeeze and feel it, or we give it a taste. If any of this seems off, then that’s the signal to throw it away. Unfortunately, when it comes to packaged foods the various language and dates used on the products has become confusing for consumers.
According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the phrase “best if used by” will “indicate to the consumer that, after a specified date, the product may not taste or perform as expected but can still be used or consumed.” So essentially, it's a quality indicator, but food would still be safe to eat after the date had passed. However, when it comes to meat, that is entirely different and should be consumed or frozen by the “use by” date.
According to the FDA, Consumer uncertainty about the meaning of the date labels on packaged foods is believed to contribute to about 20 percent of food waste in the home. The FDA says, “they’re trying to help dispel this confusion by supporting the food industry’s efforts to standardize the use of the term “Best if Used By” on its packaged-food labeling if the date is simply related to optimal quality — not safety. Studies have shown that this best conveys to consumers that these products do not have to be discarded after the date if they are stored properly.”
Many supermarkets will start discounting items as they reach the expiration date. If you’re looking for that night’s dinner, a reduced-price product might be a good option. You can also buy reduced priced meat, bread, etc and store it in your freezer. If you look closely most meat products will say “use by or freeze by.” If you decide to freeze meat products, you can do so in its original packaging; but if you're planning to keep it in your freezer for longer than two months, the FDA recommends that you overwrap these packages with airtight heavy-duty packaging such as foil, plastic wrap, freezer paper, or a plastic bag so they resist freezer burn.
So It's a win-win-win; supermarkets unload food that might otherwise go to waste, you save money, and the item is prevented from going to a landfill. If your local grocery store doesn’t practice reduced price products near to expiration, try speaking to a store manager. The more people that ask for this option, the more likely supermarkets will start implementing the practice.
It is important to note that consumer safety is still paramount when it comes to various food products. So, if you’re interested in learning more there are resources available online for consumers with questions about how long to keep perishable foods, including meat, seafood and dairy products:
· The FoodKeeper App, designed to promote understanding of food and beverage storage to maximize freshness and quality. https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep-food-safe/foodkeeper-app
· The Refrigerator and Freezer Storage Chart on page 4 of the FDA’s Food Facts brochure, providing more information about which products to refrigerate or freeze, and for how long. https://www.fda.gov/media/101389/download