Nutritionist Says 30%-40% of U.S. Food Waste Stems From Misread Date Labels
Updated
Updated · WCPO 9 Cincinnati · Jun 26
Nutritionist Says 30%-40% of U.S. Food Waste Stems From Misread Date Labels
3 articles · Updated · WCPO 9 Cincinnati · Jun 26
Summary
USDA estimates Americans waste 30% to 40% of the food supply, and dietitian Kayla Pasquale said confusion over "best by," "sell by" and "use by" labels is a major driver.
Except for infant formula, federal rules do not require product dating, and USDA guidance says those common labels generally signal peak quality or inventory timing—not food safety.
Perishables still need closer checks: milk stays safe about 7 days, eggs 3 to 5 weeks, and raw ground meat or poultry 1 to 2 days, with smell, mold and taste key spoilage warnings.
Freezing can extend food life and cut waste—USDA says ground meat keeps 3 to 4 months in the freezer, while a roast can last up to 1 year.
For shelf-stable and unopened foods, consumers may be discarding usable products days, weeks or even months early, turning label confusion into avoidable grocery losses.