This post will probably be removed by mods, we'll see, but the subject comes up 20 times/day on this sub. Some may recognize my username as often commenting on best by/sell by/use by/expiration dates on foods. I just got this from 1440 news an...
This post will probably be removed by mods, we'll see, but the subject comes up 20 times/day on this sub. Some may recognize my username as often commenting on best by/sell by/use by/expiration dates on foods. I just got this from 1440 news and wanted to share. I won't link, here's the text. California Food Labels California food labels can no longer include “sell by” dates after a new law went into effect yesterday. Food producers can instead add “best if used by” dates (indicating peak product quality) or “use by” dates (indicating safety). See fine print. The law aims to reduce confusion. More than 80% of Americans discard unspoiled food due to label misunderstandings One-third of respondents falsely believe the dates are federally regulated (the exception is infant formula, after the removal of salt in the 1970s led to at least 118 cases of Bartter syndrome). Nearly 20% of American food waste is due to label confusion, the FDA says. In California, more than 6 million tons of unspoiled food per year ends up in landfills, where organic waste releases more than 40% of the state’s methane emissions, per climate advocates. California’s laws can have nationwide implications, as companies streamline their products for compliance. See how a toxic chemical law impacted Californians and non-Californians alike (Figure 1). I will repeat, I don't want to kill anybody but if it smells good and looks good, it's probably good. Food is expensive enough. Don't kneecap yourself and your food bill by throwing away perfectly good stuff. If it says: Expires - that's regulated by the feds. Medications, vitamins, and infant formula. Sell by - That's manufacturers telling retailers to clear it off the shelves for their own reputations and buy fresh product. Often on boxed or frozen foods. Those Doritos did not expire at midnight. Best by, Use by, or Best if used by - Quality recommendations. It really depends more on how you store and handle. They use a worst-case scenario. It could go bad earlier, most probably later. In general none of these mean a food is unsafe. It may be sub-par. YOU are the one to determine if it is safe by using proper food handling techniques. Which I might add are usually posted for restaurants and food service service workers and often, but not always apply to home cooks. submitted by /u/Tasty_Impress3016 [link] [comments]
