About nine years ago, when I was vice president of food safety at the world’s largest food retailer, I learned how many different date labels food manufacturers use to communicate when food is nearing its expiry date. I investigated whether it was done. To my surprise, there were 47 different labels that were unnecessarily complicated. These range from “freshness date”, “best by” date, “sell by date”, etc.
Diverse ways of communicating the same message created confusion and food waste. We acted quickly to resolve the issue with our private label food brands. Almost a decade later, what was true then is still true for much of the food industry today. There are countless ways to communicate the so-called “best before” date, and confusion about its meaning remains one of the main causes of food waste.
The Food Date Labeling Act (S.1484 | HR3159), which would standardize and simplify date labels across the United States, has been in Congress for the past five years. The research is clear. We have a proven, simple and cost-effective solution at your fingertips to standardize phrases on date labels used on food products. It’s time to stop talking about confusing date labels and start solving the problem.
It is estimated that approximately 20% of consumer food waste is due to confusion over date labels. That’s 1.3 billion meals, or one-quarter of all meals distributed by Feeding America food banks in 2022. But it’s not the consumer’s fault. Consumer confusion is the result of a confusing system. With over 50 non-standardized phrase variations on labels today, it’s no wonder date labels are difficult to understand.
Manufacturers may use dates to communicate food safety, but date labels are often used to indicate the manufacturer’s estimate of the product’s best quality. Indiscriminate use of terms like “best before” and “use by” dates can lead consumers to believe that “better safe than sorry,” even though dates are intended to convey the best quality of a food, not its safety. ” and throw away delicious food. Unfortunately, that means people are wasting money on food that is safe to consume.
Solving the problem is easy. Standardize date labels and educate consumers about the meaning of the labels. According to consumer research, only two phrases for consumers are sufficient. Regarding quality, we refer to the expiration date, and regarding safety, we refer to the expiration date. Educating consumers about the differences between these two standard phrases can reduce confusion, save consumers money, and reduce food waste.
It is a good idea to keep the date labels the same. When I was deputy commissioner for food policy at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), I learned that part of the reason people throw away food that is safe to eat past the date on the package is that I discovered that it was because I was afraid. It’s a food safety issue. Providing consumer education about food labels increases their confidence in decision-making, whether it’s putting dates on packages for safety reasons or simply communicating optimal quality.
Standardization of date labels is supported by many food manufacturers. As Walmart’s Vice President of Food Safety, I spearheaded a transition to require all private label foods sold in our stores to use standardized “best before” language on quality date labels. Our customers have responded well to this change, telling us that this phrase conveys quality by date alone best. This change is an opportunity to simplify our customers’ lives and help them make smart purchasing decisions. Manufacturers would also benefit from a national standard for date labels rather than the fragmented industry and, in some cases, the current state-by-state approach.
Finally, standardization of date labels is achievable. Within a year and a half, Walmart achieved near-full compliance with standardized date labeling requirements for private label foods. Manufacturers have the technology to switch the presentation of foods. Additionally, there are already established methods for determining the date to display on products, such as evaluating expiration dates for quality and conducting microbial load tests for safety.
Legal solutions like the Food Date Labeling Act do not tell manufacturers which dates to use, nor do they require them to change their practices in how dates are determined. We simply eliminate consumer confusion by streamlining the intent of dates through common terminology across foods.
The need for action to reduce food waste has never been clearer. Research has been established to prove the functionality of a standardized date label solution.
People already think the federal government regulates date labels. It’s finally time to clear up the food date label confusion. Remember that food is too important to waste.
Frank Yiannas is the former Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response at the FDA and former Vice President of Food Safety at Walmart.