More than 90% of Americans throw out food prematurely, and 40% of the U.S. food supply is tossed-unused every year because of confusion around food dating.
Is your food actually expired? Sell-by and use-by dates are adding to millions of pounds of wasted food each year. According to a report from the Natural Defense Council (NRDC) and Harvard Law Schools Food Law and Policy Clinic, Americans are throwing out food too quickly due to a misunderstanding about the expiration date labels. Stamped by manufacturers, the dates indicate freshness and the peak of the product.
Re-education starts with a clear understanding of what the dates mean.
Use-by and Best-by: Date is intended for consumer to deem peak freshness of product. This does not indicate spoilage or safety to eat the food.
Sell-by: Date is intended for manufacturers and retailers, not the consumer. It is a stocking and marketing tool to ensure proper turnover of products in a store.