There is a price hike for food items, from eggs to orange juice to upcoming holiday meals. With people around the country facing record inflation, each dollar matters. A federal government report suggests that confusion over food packaging date labels might lead people to toss delicious food and money down the drain.
Americans waste 133 billion food each year, worth about $161 billion. Putting “best by” labels on food has led to confusion and waste, so the government decided to regulate it. According to the FDA, it is imperative to clear up the confusion regarding date labels to prevent food waste.
There might be a reason why food “sell by” labels are confusing. It has been found that 91% of consumers throw away food too soon because they do not understand its labeling.
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Susan Mayne, Director FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said, “A product can be beyond the ‘best if used by date and still be safe and of appropriate quality for consumers to use.”
Mayne suggests paying attention to the product’s consistency or texture when buying expired food. Foods can also begin to rot if they smell differently from when they first opened them since that’s often an indication.
Here are four ways to reduce food waste
Don’t Make Impulse Or Bulk Purchases
Compared to shelf-stable items, produce and dairy products decay faster. When consuming stored canned food, however, precautions should still be taken, depending on the acidity of the food.
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Leave Leftovers In The Fridge
Keep leftovers refrigerated within two hours after eating out. Food poisoning is more likely to occur in the refrigerator after three to four days; if you plan to eat leftovers after that, freeze them.
Make Use Of Your Freezer
You can keep food in the freezer much longer than in the refrigerator. It is possible to freeze poultry and other meats for months, while they can only last for weeks in the fridge.
Make Use Of Mobile Apps
With the FoodKeeper app, families can also stay on top of when to throw away specific food items. You should eat deli meat within three to five days if refrigerated and between one and two months if frozen within the app.