Crackers are past date on box. Should I toss them?

Harvard Gazette reports that a new California law standardizes food date labels to distinguish between peak quality and actual safety. The law, which took effect in July, aims to cut the confusion that leads Americans to toss about a third of the food they buy. The Gazette spoke with Harvard Law expert Emily Broad Leib, who says most labels are about freshness, not safety, and cites a survey finding 43 percent of consumers throw away food based on the date alone. The law requires 'Best if used by' for quality and 'Use by' for the few foods that can become risky, like deli meat.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton