Unlike “use by” labels, which are found on perishable foods like meat and dairy, “best before” labels have nothing to do with safety and may encourage consumers to throw away food that’s perfectly fine to eat.
The United Nations estimates that 17% of global food production is wasted each year; most of that comes from households. In the U.S., as much as 35% of food available goes uneaten, ReFED says. That adds up to a lot of wasted energy — including the water, land and labor that goes into the food production — and higher greenhouse gas emissions when unwanted food goes into landfills.
But the effort is voluntary, and the language on labels continues to vary widely, from “sell by” to “enjoy by” to “freshest before.” A survey released in June by researchers at the University of Maryland found at least 50 different date labels used on U.S. grocery shelves and widespread confusion among customers.
“Our bodies are very well equipped to recognize the signs of decay, when food is past its edible point,” Gunders said. “We’ve lost trust in those senses and we’ve replaced it with trust in these dates.” But not everyone agrees. Ana Wetrov of London, who runs a home renovation business with her husband, worries that without labels, staff might not know which items should be removed from shelves. She recently bought a pineapple and only realized after she cut into it that it was rotting in the middle.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Best Of Houston® 2022: Best Dive BarBest Dive Bar: Cozy Corner If your idea of a dive bar requires a specific seediness — an air of back-alley danger populated with downtrodden, booze-soaked, shadowy figures, let’s say — then maybe the Cozy Corner is not for you (also, stop reading so many Raymond Chandler novels). This longtime...
Read more »
Best Of Houston® 2022: Best Barbecue ChickenBest Barbecue Chicken: Gatlin's BBQ We understand why barbecue lovers treat a good brisket like a sculpture by Rodin. Smoking a brisket is arduous and takes skill. Ruin it and you’re left with a useless block of stone. But, we’d argue it’s at least as an impressive feat of culinary...
Read more »
Best Of Houston® 2022: Best GelatoBest Gelato: Rocambolesc Those visiting Uptown Park are in for a treat. Spain’s Jordi Roca and Alejandra Rivas opened their first gelateria in the United States, and they did it right here in Houston. The Willy Wonka-esque Rocambolesc interprets the desserts Roca — named 'Best Pastry Chef of the World'...
Read more »
Best Of Houston® 2022: Best Sports FansBest Sports Fans: Houston Texans The best sports fans aren’t the ones hopelessly devoted to their favorite franchises. Hordes of cheering zombies are sometimes a bad sign that one’s team has moved from the athletic field to the competitive graveyard. Houston Texans fans may have shocked some life into the...
Read more »
Best of Houston® 2022 - Best Community OrchestraHouston Press grants the Texas Medical Center Orchestra the title of 2022's Best Community Orchestra.
Read more »
Best Of Houston® 2022: Best Breakfast - DowntownBest Breakfast - Downtown: Common Bond Brasserie & Bakery Located downtown in the Bank of America Tower, cult favorite bakery Common Bond introduced its first full-service restaurant to Houston last fall, offering a funky, bright and spacious sit-down brasserie next to the brand’s signature bakery counter and coffee bar. City...
Read more »