To make food dates more useful to shoppers, more brands have adopted the USE BY and BEST IF USED BY dating system to prevent the consumption of unsafe food and to prevent food waste. Even with this more universal approach to food dating shoppers are confused.
In a study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 37% of shoppers did not understand the meaning of BEST IF USED BY and 48% did not understood the meaning of USE BY.
BEST IF USED BY date means the quality of the food may deteriorate but the food is still safe to eat. This date might appear on cereal or bread.
USE BY date means the food is not safe to eat after the date on the label. This date might appear on milk or yogurt because the food may spoil if held too long.
With food dates appearing on almost everything you buy, consumers are starting to pay less attention to their actual meaning. Dates, however, can initiate food waste when a food is still edible or just a few days past its BEST IF USED BY date. It is important that people know the difference between the two types of food dates to prevent waste and promote food safety.
