Reduce Food Waste: What Food Expiration Dates Really Mean – Infographic

How often do you throw away food?

In the United States, $218 billion is spent every year on food that is never eaten.

Many people swear by the labeling on their food and if it the date has passed the food

ends up in the bin.

You might think to yourself that it isn’t the worth the risk to eat “expired” food, but

the truth is that food labeling is an extremely flawed system and many people do not

understand the real meaning behind the dates.

“Did you know that 33% of the

world’s food is wasted and lack of

knowledge about expiry dates

plays a big role in that?”

It’s time to clear up the confusion.

For example, the best-before-date does not mean the food is gone off, it simply means that

the manufacturer of the product cannot completely guarantee the products quality.

It has absolutely nothing to do with whether the food is safe to eat or not.

It is critical for you to educate yourself, friends and family members about the meaning of

food labels, test the food yourself and take initiative to make a difference in the way food

is labeled.

Let’s face it, edible food is a terrible thing to waste.

“Expiration dates do not

inform customers whether

food is safe to eat or not.”

It seems that misconceptions surrounding this issue are contributing to the startling

statistic that 33% of the world’s food is wasted from plough to plate.

Of course, there are simple steps we can take to minimize food waste.

Shopping for fresh produce at your local farmer’s market or favorite local store–

and only buying what you and your family will be able to consume in a few days–is one

wise way to reduce the amount of wasted food in your home.

Storing your food properly is another way to reduce food waste once the food is

in your home.

Freeze what you don’t plan to eat soon to preserve nutrients and avoid spoilage.

Use your senses to test whether food is edible.

Don’t toss bruised or blemished produce. You can transform bruised or wilted foods

by cooking them.

For example, turn soft tomatoes into pasta sauce, puree wilted carrots or celery into a sauce,

soup or stew; toast stale bread into croutons; freeze soft bananas and blend into ice cream, etc.

Organize the food in your fridge and pantry. Store newer foods in the back and put

food that may perish soon — or that’s been in there longest — in the front, and add them to

your meal plans.

Compost un-repurposed food such as fruit and veggie peels, eggshells, tea bags, fruit pits,

and the like instead chucking it into the trash.

Make compost to use in your garden or find a local compost drop, like a community garden

or farmers’ market.

You can donate some expired food items. Although most food banks don’t want

damaged or bulging cans, some food banks will accept expired food, and others won’t —

so check to find out what the policy is at your local food bank.

For example, certain food banks maintain a list of Food Shelf Extended Dates, indicating

exactly which“expired” foods, including canned items, it accepts.

Also, some surplus grocery stores and food-salvage stores actually specialize in such products.

Or just eat it!

Of course, if the cans show signs of problems — bulges, dents along the seams, etc. —

you won’t want to keep them.

But if the only issue is the date on the package, the food might be safe to eat.

According to the USDA:  

“A ‘Best if Used By (or Before)’ date is

recommended for best flavor or quality.

It is not a purchase or safety date.”

According to John Ruff, president of the Institute of Food Technologies…

“Most products are safe to eat long after their expiration date–that’s because it’s not the

food that sat on the shelf too long that makes you sick, it’s the food that got contaminated

with salmonella or listeria bacteria, or disease-causing strains of E. coli.

And that food could easily have arrived in the store only yesterday.

In 40 years, in eight countries, if I think of major product recalls and food poisoning

outbreaks, I can’t think of [one] that was driven by a shelf-life issue. Canned food,

in particular, can stay safe for a really long time.”

Dr. Ted Labuza, a professor of food science at the University of Minnesota explains that…

“Foods can remain safe to consume for some time beyond sell-by and even use-by dates provided

they are handled and stored properly.  Canned foods and shelf-stable goods like salad dressings

can be consumed for years beyond their expiration dates.

While their quality might suffer — for example, emulsified dressings may split — they will not pose

a safety hazard unless contaminated. Apart from baby formula and certain types of baby foods,

product dating is not even required by federal regulations.”

What Food Expiry Dates Really Mean

Check out the infographic below from Lakeshore Convention Centre which explains valuable

information about food labels and expiration dates–and what they really mean so we can

stop wasting so much food!

Infographic source:  

What are your thoughts about food expiration dates?

What do you do to reduce food waste in your home?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.

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