Confusing food labels are about to get a lot simpler

Pop quiz: What ’s the difference between “best by,” “sell by” or “expires on”?If you ’re not sure, you aren’t alone. Americans toss out $165 billion worth of food each year, often out of safety concerns fueled by confusion about the meaning of the more than 10 different date labels used on packages.Grocery manufacturers and retailers are finally taking pity. Recently, the Food Marketing Institute and Grocery Manufacturers Associationannounced they would voluntarily streamline date labels and begin using two standard phrases: “best if used by” for quality and “use by” for highly perishable items like meat, fish and cheese that can be dangerous to eat if they are too old.Food manufacturers will begin phasing in the change now, with widespread adoption expected by summer 2018.Food policy experts from across the University of California praised the new guidelines, calling them a positive step that could help consumers and the environment.“This is a great idea,” saidMichael Roberts, executive director of theUCLA Resnick Program for Food Law and Policy  and a UC Global Food Initiative subcommittee member. “Hopefully, it will not only eliminate confusion from consumers but also reduce food waste. Most consumers want to be safe and cautious. Too often, they’re throwing food away before it needs to be thrown away.”Simplifying labelsAbout 40 percent of food in the United States goes uneaten — a staggering waste of money and sustenance, valued at r...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news