‘Best Before’ labels scrutinized

[Mike Mercury]

food waste concerns grow

https://apnews.com/article/business-...gn=position_09

As awareness grows around the world about the problem of food waste, one culprit in particular is drawing scrutiny: “best before” labels.

Manufacturers have used the labels for decades to estimate peak freshness. Unlike “use by” labels, which are found on perishable foods like meat and dairy, “best before” labels have nothing to do with safety and may encourage consumers to throw away food that’s perfectly fine to eat.

“They read these dates and then they assume that it’s bad, they can’t eat it and they toss it, when these dates don’t actually mean that they’re not edible or they’re not still nutritious or tasty,” said Patty Apple, a manager at Food Shift, an Alameda, California, nonprofit that collects and uses expired or imperfect foods.

To tackle the problem, major U.K. chains like Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer recently removed “best before” labels from prepackaged fruit and vegetables. The European Union is expected to announce a revamp to its labeling laws by the end of this year; it’s considering abolishing “best before” labels altogether.

In the U.S., there’s no similar push to scrap “best before” labels. But there is growing momentum to standardize the language on date labels to help educate buyers about food waste, including a push from big grocers and food companies and bipartisan legislation in Congress.

Manufacturers have used the labels for decades to estimate peak freshness. Unlike “use by” labels, which are found on perishable foods like meat and dairy, “best before” labels have nothing to do with safety and may encourage consumers to throw away food that’s perfectly fine to eat.

“They read these dates and then they assume that it’s bad, they can’t eat it and they toss it, when these dates don’t actually mean that they’re not edible or they’re not still nutritious or tasty,” said Patty Apple, a manager at Food Shift, an Alameda, California, nonprofit that collects and uses expired or imperfect foods.


“I do think that the level of support for this has grown tremendously,” said Dana Gunders, executive director of ReFED, a New York-based nonprofit that studies food waste.

The United Nations estimates that 17% of global food production is wasted each year; most of that comes from households. In the U.S., as much as 35% of food available goes uneaten, ReFED says. That adds up to a lot of wasted energy — including the water, land and labor that goes into the food production — and higher greenhouse gas emissions when unwanted food goes into landfills.

Date labels were widely adopted by manufacturers in the 1970s to answer consumers’ concerns about product freshness. There are no federal rules governing them, and manufacturers are allowed to determine when they believe their products will taste best. Only infant formula is required to have a “use by” date in the U.S.

Since 2019, the Food and Drug Administration — which regulates around 80% of U.S. food — has recommended that manufacturers use the labels “best if used by” for freshness and “use by” for perishable goods, based on surveys showing that consumers understand those phrases.

“Most people believe that if it says ‘sell by,’ ‘best by’ or ‘expiration,’ you can’t eat any of them. That’s not actually accurate,” said Richard Lipsit, who owns a Grocery Outlet store in Pleasanton, California, that specializes in discounted food.

Lipsit said milk can be safely consumed up to a week after its “use by” date. Gunders said canned goods and many other packaged foods can be safely eaten for years after their “best before” date. The FDA suggests consumers look for changes in color, consistency or texture to determine if foods are all right to eat.

[69L46]

Especially true for sugar laden items, such as salad dressings.

[snide]

What if we send all our "expired" food to Africa?

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

I worked with this guy who used to follow the vending machine dude around and dumpster dive for all the shit he tossed past its date. This **** made $150k/year and here is digging through trash cans. “Perfectly good!” he’d say.

[Mick]

I was cleaning out the pantry some time ago, and found a jar of capers that was 11 years passed its expiration date. I had my neighbor over, and we ate it on some crackers. The capers were a little mushy from sitting in the vinegar that long, but they tasted fine.

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by Giraffe (He/Him)

I worked with this guy who used to follow the vending machine dude around and dumpster dive for all the shit he tossed past its date. This **** made $150k/year and here is digging through trash cans. “Perfectly good!” he’d say.

Speaking of that... The break room at my company has a couple of vending machines that haven't been used since the pandemic started. Everything inside them must be expired by now.

If our vending machine guy ever comes back I'll have to keep an eye on the dumpster.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Originally Posted by Mick

I was cleaning out the pantry some time ago, and found a jar of capers that was 11 years passed its expiration date. I had my neighbor over, and we ate it on some crackers. The capers were a little mushy from sitting in the vinegar that long, but they tasted fine.

Now I’m craving chicken piccata.

[RMVette]

Originally Posted by snide

What if we send all our "expired" food to Africa?

That wouldn't work because we found out that the homeless don't even eat muffin tops....

YouTube

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by NEED-A-VETTE

Now I’m craving chicken piccata.

So get in the kitchen and start cooking.

[Torqaholic]

Dates are just a recommendation, not a law.

Best to examine things before consumption (smell/visual inspection). I find milk to usually be good for 3 days beyond the date, sometimes not, but I've seen it still usable as much as 7-10 days past the printed date. In fact I just poured some down the drain an hour ago that wasn't even set to expire for another 3 days. Had the carton for about a week but it did not smell good when I grabbed it for my coffee this morning.

Assuming proper refrigeration my theory on the variability is due to photo-sensitivity. The amount and strength of light it's been exposed to can probably affect shelf life.

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by NEED-A-VETTE

Now I’m craving chicken piccata.

[69L46]

Originally Posted by dvarapala

Speaking of that... The break room at my company has a couple of vending machines that haven't been used since the pandemic started. Everything inside them must be expired by now.

If our vending machine guy ever comes back I'll have to keep an eye on the dumpster.

Our office has been closed since March, 2020. I went back in a few weeks ago and grabbed some cookies from the vending machine. After eating them I noticed the 'Best consumed by' date was Oct 2021.

I'm still here. If I ever need to stock a bomb shelter those will certainly make the list.

[MadInNc]

My wife believes those dates are guidance….

I finally got her to throw out of Kirkland cranberries and pecan snack she brought from her moms fridge when we cleaned it out at her death - 5 yrs ago. To bad my MIL ashes don’t have an expiration date LOL

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

So get in the kitchen and start cooking.

[Mike Mercury]

[GTOguy]

I see expiration dates on rubbing alcohol and bottled water. And other non-perishable items. I took an Aleve the other day and the jar said expired in 2010. No worries. Dairy items I pay attention to, packaged and pickled and canned, not so much.

[Don Rickles]

Originally Posted by Mick

I was cleaning out the pantry some time ago, and found a jar of capers that was 11 years passed its expiration date. I had my neighbor over, and we ate it on some crackers. The capers were a little mushy from sitting in the vinegar that long, but they tasted fine.

Don't know why but this one made me laugh!

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

[Don Rickles]

Same, could be said about women too?

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Torqaholic

Dates are just a recommendation, not a law.

Best to examine things before consumption (smell/visual inspection). I find milk to usually be good for 3 days beyond the date, sometimes not, but I've seen it still usable as much as 7-10 days past the printed date. In fact I just poured some down the drain an hour ago that wasn't even set to expire for another 3 days. Had the carton for about a week but it did not smell good when I grabbed it for my coffee this morning.

Assuming proper refrigeration my theory on the variability is due to photo-sensitivity. The amount and strength of light it's been exposed to can probably affect shelf life.

It has taken me DECADES to explain to my wife that the date on the milk jug is the "sell by" date. The milk is supposed to be good for a few days AFTER that date, as long as it isn't opened. Once opened, the shelf life is shortened significantly. So if the only milk they have, has tomorrow's date on it, it should last 3-4 days, even though it is past the date when we finish it. If when I buy it, the "sell by" date is 2 weeks away, and 10 days after she opens it, it smells horrible and is curdled, there is NOTHING wrong here! Just throw it out and I will buy you a new jug!

She understands it now, but still grumbles about it from time to time.