Labels indicating a more clear 'use by' date can combat food waste
Labels indicating “best if used by” and “use by” indicate quality and food safety, respectively. They need to be accompanied by a consumer-education campaign.
An estimated 133 billion pounds of food is wasted in America each year, according to the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that approximately 21% of the waste that reaches landfills and incinerators is food, representing $161.6 billion worth of food thrown away.
With numbers like that, it’s no wonder that stakeholders across government agencies, the food industry, consumer groups and academic institutions are looking at ways to reduce food waste that will help to increase U.S. food security and enhance sustainability.