Food expiration dates don’t mean what you think - Carolyn Beans

Summary

The script highlights the significant issue of food waste in the United States, where 37% of waste comes from households. It explains that many foods are discarded due to confusion over date labels, which often indicate freshness rather than safety. The script suggests solutions like standardized date labels, removing labels on produce, and encouraging food donations to reduce waste.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Food waste is a global issue, with the United States being one of the worst offenders.
• 🏠 37% of US food waste comes from individual households, highlighting the role of consumers in this problem.
• 📅 Consumers often discard food past its labeled dates due to confusion, contributing to food waste.
• 🛒 Before the 20th century, freshness was assessed by sight, smell, and touch, but processed foods made this more difficult.
• 🏪 Open dating was introduced in the 1970s to indicate optimum freshness, but it is not directly related to food safety.
• 📦 Food manufacturers and retailers set early dates to ensure the best taste, leading many foods to be safe beyond their labeled dates.
• 🍪 Shelf-stable items like cookies and pasta might taste stale but are generally safe to eat, while canned foods can last for years if not bulging or rusting.
• 🥚 Eggs can be refrigerated for up to five weeks, and spoiled produce can be identified by off odors and mold.
• ⚠️ Certain foods like meat, ready-to-eat salads, deli meats, and unpasteurized cheeses should be consumed or frozen within days of purchase for safety.
• 🍼 Date labels on infant formula are regulated to indicate safety, which is crucial for infants' health.
• 🏛️ Advocacy for standardized date labels like 'Best if used by' and 'Use by' could help reduce food waste by clarifying freshness and safety.

Q & A

What is a significant issue with food waste globally?

Food waste is a major global issue, with countries like the United States being some of the worst offenders. A significant portion of this waste comes from individual households.

What percentage of US food waste is attributed to individual households?

37% of US food waste comes from individual households.

Why do consumers often throw away food items past their labeled dates?

Approximately 20% of food items are discarded because consumers are unsure how to interpret the dates on the labels, often leading to the assumption that the food is unsafe to eat.

What was the typical method of assessing food freshness before the 20th century?

Before the 20th century, most people assessed food freshness using sight, smell, and touch, as the path between food production and consumption was more direct.

How did the introduction of supermarkets and processed foods affect the ability to gauge food freshness?

The introduction of supermarkets and processed foods made it harder to gauge product ages, leading to the adoption of packaging codes and open dating systems to indicate optimum freshness.

What is the open dating system and how does it relate to food safety?

The open dating system is a method where food manufacturers or retailers label products with dates indicating optimum freshness. This system is vague and has nothing to do with expiration dates or food safety.

Why do manufacturers and retailers set early dates on food labels?

Manufacturers and retailers set early dates to ensure customers taste their food at its best and are motivated to buy more, even though the food is often safe to eat far beyond these dates.

What are some examples of foods that are safe to eat beyond their labeled dates?

Old cookies, pasta, and other shelf-stable groceries might taste stale but are not a health risk. Canned foods can stay safe for years as long as they don't show signs of bulging or rusting.

What are the recommended practices for handling refrigerated eggs and spoiled produce?

Refrigerated eggs are good for up to five weeks, and spoiled produce can be identified by off odors, slimy surfaces, and mold.

What are some high-risk food items that should be consumed or frozen within days of purchase according to the USDA?

The USDA recommends eating or freezing meat, ready-to-eat salads, deli meats, and unpasteurized cheeses within days of purchase due to the risk of pathogenic bacteria.

What are some proposed solutions to reduce food waste related to date labels?

Experts advocate for laws requiring standardized phrases on date labels like 'Best if used by' for freshness or 'Use by' for safety. Other solutions include removing date labels on produce and incentivizing grocers and restaurants to donate unsold food.

How do some countries like France address the issue of food waste and donations?

France requires that many supermarkets donate unsold food, going further than some other countries in addressing food waste and ensuring that food is not wasted due to confusion around dates.