But ‘best by,’ ‘use by,’ and ambiguous date labeling significantly decrease the odds that food items are fully utilized,’ claim the authors of a new study on household food waste. ” Senior author of the study, Brian Roe, Ph. D. , an Ohio State University professor of agricultural, environmental, and development economics, claims that creating a standard labeling system is essential to reducing food waste without compromising safety. However, he continues, “the challenge of consumer education remains significant because you are asking consumers to take on drastically different responses (evaluate whether the quality is appropriate vs If the item poses a risk to safety, dispose of it or compost it) based on just one brief sentence “.
An NRDC and Harvard University report states that manufacturers usually use lab testing and taste testing to determine these label dates. But consumers have no way of knowing the background. Dates are often conservative, so if you eat food after that point, you might not taste any different, especially if it’s been a while since the date.
If you’re still not sure whether a product or item is worth saving past its date label, a free app the USDA created, FoodKeeper, will help you determine how soon specific items—everything from oats to coconut milk to maple syrup—should be consumed if it’s stored in the pantry, or how long it will last in your refrigerator once it’s opened.
“It is crucial for consumers to adhere to appropriate food handling and storage procedures in order to avert needless spoilage and guarantee food safety,” says Mujahid.
The Food Date Labeling Act was introduced in both chambers of Congress in May 2016 in an effort to harmonize and clarify labeling. But the bill is still in committee in both houses.
Lately, I peered far into the back of my house, past endless piles of food, and discovered… Alright, I went to the cupboard and grabbed a can of soup with chicken noodles. The can has been expired since 2013, which is more than 4 years after most people would have thrown it out.
While I stock up on freeze dried and bulk foods such as rice, canned goods are the staple of my own food storage program. I have written about the myths surrounding expiration dates and suffice it to say canned foods will last years past labeled expiration date if properly stored. This goes for almost every kind of canned food including meats, soups, stews, fruits, and vegetables.
I took the can, warmed it up, and popped it into my stomach. No issues whatsoever. The can was processed the day before, as I had anticipated, and everyone enjoyed its look, smell, texture, and flavor. It really comes down to opening a can, heating it up, and eating it, even though I would like to write a long essay about my taste test.
Over the years, the wifey wanted to throw out a variety of canned goods, so I saved them. Every so often I pull one out and serve it. So far I’ve had no issues with any of them.
****Note: Do not consume canned that are bulging or leaking. It’s not good for canned food – or people.
