Industry News - AM

Confusion over food labels abounds in U.S. households: poll


By Chris Scott on 7/31/2017

A majority of American consumers are having issues decoding the various date labels on their food products, sparking potential problems that can affect food safety and food waste, according to a new poll led by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).

The poll found that 60 percent of 1,000 American consumers surveyed have had discussions in their homes about the exact meaning of such terms as “best by, use by, sell by, use or freeze by” that currently are found on food labels. The resulting confusion not only makes it difficult to determine whether food is safe to eat, but also causes disagreements among 40 percent of poll respondents on whether the food should be eaten or thrown away, the research found.

The GMA and poll co-sponsor Food Policy Action Network took action in February with a goal of streamlining and standardizing the words on date labels. The organizations now believe that using the words “Best If Used By” to describe product quality and the term “Use By” to address perishability concerns can clear up the consumer confusion. Eliminating that confusion can save U.S. households money and time and also help eliminate food waste, the groups added.


 
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