Can new labels take a bite out of food waste?
Food producers use several phrases 鈥� 鈥渦se by,鈥� 鈥渟ell by,鈥� 鈥渆njoy by,鈥� 鈥渇resh until鈥� 鈥� to indicate their products鈥� dates of peak freshness and safety. Now, retailers want them to just use two.
Under a by the Food Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association, a food鈥檚 packaging would indicate the date of peak quality with the phrase 鈥淏est if used by,鈥� and the last date it can be safely consumed with the phrase 鈥渦se by.鈥�
Food-safety experts say that these changes could reduce America鈥檚 food waste.
鈥淚 think this will really help consumers know when does that date matter and when does it not matter for safety reasons,鈥� Emily Broad Leib, the director of the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, .
Date labels on food became widespread in the mid-1970s, introduced haphazardly by state governments and food industry groups in response to consumer demands.
The system that resulted 鈥渕isleads consumers to believe they must discard food in order to protect their own safety,鈥� by the Food Law and Policy Clinic and the Natural Resources Defense Council. 鈥淚n fact, the dates are only suggestions by the manufacturer for when the food is at its peak quality, not when it is unsafe to eat.鈥�
But a survey conducted last year by Ohio State University researchers found that 68 percent of respondents thought throwing away food after the package date would reduce the chance of illness, while 59 percent believed some food waste is needed to make sure food is fresh and flavorful.
These misconceptions, in part, prompt American consumers to worth of food annually.
The new labels aim to keep still-safe food out of the trash. 鈥淏est if used by鈥� will indicate when a food has passed maximum freshness, but could still be safe 鈥� possibly a long time, for some processed foods. 鈥淯se by鈥� will indicate the last day it can be safely consumed.
It鈥檚 not yet clear how widely the labels will be adopted. that they won鈥檛 be phased in until 2018, and will be voluntary after that. would mandate the introduction of similar labels, but it鈥檚 been stuck in committee since May.
Even so, the new regulations have gained the support of Walmart, the nation鈥檚 largest retailer, and Professor Broad Leib says they have given her cause for optimism.
鈥淚t鈥檚 still a first step,鈥� she told the Post, 鈥渂ut it鈥檚 very significant.鈥�
