Developing a more standardized system could keep 398,000 tons of food from being wasted every year, according to a report released this year by Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic and other groups. The average family throws out about $1,500 in perfectly edible food a year, CBS News reported.
“Dates On Food Labels May Actually Start To Make Some Sense,” published by The Huffington Post on December 21, 2016, reports on new guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which recommends that manufacturers use one easy-to-interpret label: “Best if used by.” The hope is that an easily understood, standardized label across all food products will cut down on consumer confusion and reduce the amount of edible food that becomes garbage.
The USDA’s guidance calls on years of research from leading food law and policy organizations, including the Food Law and Policy Clinic of Harvard Law School (FLPC). FLPC has released a statement applauding the guidance and the call for streamlined expiration labels.
Food Law & Policy, Commentary, Students Speaking On...
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