Food Label Dates Confusion

Consumer confusion over food labels is not uncommon, in fact, it’s a pretty common occurrence, especially when it comes to dates on food products. Consumers are inundated with “best before” dates, “sell by” dates, and “use by” dates on foods they buy, and more often than not aren’t sure what those dates really signify. A new Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic report is calling for a standardized food date labeling system that would help alleviate consumer confusion, as well as cut down on the excessive food waste that incurs because of confusing food label dates. It’s estimated that up to 90% of consumers throw away perfectly good, edible food prematurely because they don’t understand that the date labels don’t necessarily indicate food safety. In fact, the report states that “almost none of the apparent expiration dates has anything to do with food safety”. Most of these dates are intended to pinpoint food freshness and peak quality, as in this food will taste best if used by this date. As far as sell by dates - those aren’t even meant for the consumer, they’re for retailer stock control. Which is why the HFLPC and the NRDC say “sell by” dates should be “invisible to the consumer”.