Understanding Expiration Dates: Why We Discard Safe Food and How It Affects You | Food Poisoning News

Expiration dates on food packaging aim to help consumers know when products are fresh, but they often lead to throwing away perfectly edible food. This behavior is tied to various psychological, cultural, and systemic factors, contributing to global food waste and economic loss.

The Confusion of Date Labels

Many people misunderstand terms like “best by,” “use by,” and “sell by.” They often see these as strict safety indicators, while they mostly relate to quality. The USDA notes that over 80% of Americans toss food based solely on these labels. Confusion arises from inconsistent labeling: “best by” reflects optimal flavor, while “sell by” helps stores manage stock. Only infant formula requires a “use by” date for safety. This inconsistency creates uncertainty, leading consumers to play it safe by discarding items.

Why We Waste Food

Fear of getting sick and feelings of disgust greatly affect our food disposal habits. A 2022 study in the Journal of Consumer Psychology revealed that people often view expired food as risky, even if it looks and smells fine. This tendency to prioritize caution is reinforced by societal norms linking freshness with health. Cognitive biases also contribute; for instance, the “anchoring effect” causes people to focus on printed dates, ignoring their own judgment about food quality. Additionally, “loss aversion” makes the fear of illness weigh heavier than the actual loss of wasted food.

Broader Influences on Consumer Behavior

In wealthier countries, easy access to food and marketing that highlights freshness normalize throwing out items past their expiration dates. Retail practices, like discounting near-expired products, suggest that older food is substandard. Strict food safety regulations further drive businesses to discard items after their dates, shaping consumer behavior in the process.

Globally, about 1.3 billion tons of food go to waste every year. Date labels contribute to 10% of this waste in the EU and U.S., according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This results in significant economic loss—around $161 billion annually in the U.S.—along with environmental harm, such as increased greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing food.

Changing Attitudes and Solutions

To combat waste related to date labels, efforts are underway to educate consumers and reform policies. Organizations like the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic push for standardized labels, using terms like “best if used by” for quality and “expires on” for safety. In 2023, the EU revised its date-labeling guidelines for better clarity, while states like California and New York are pursuing laws to improve labeling. Public campaigns, such as the USDA’s “FoodKeeper App,” educate on safe food storage. Retailers like Walmart and Tesco have even eliminated date labels on some fresh produce, allowing consumers to rely on their judgment. Innovations like “smart packaging,” which changes color to indicate spoilage, could further separate safety from arbitrary dates.

A Way Forward

Expiration dates have their purpose, but their psychological impact highlights a need for systemic change. Making labels clearer and promoting education could help bridge the gap between what consumers think and the actual safety of food. This approach could reduce waste while ensuring safety.

“As our food systems face growing strain from climate change and population growth, rethinking date labels is a reasonable step towards better sustainability,” says a leading food poisoning lawyer.

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