美国消费者因食品包装上的日期标签而大量丢弃仍可食用的食物。根据约翰·霍普金斯大学公共卫生学院2019年的研究，超过80%的美国消费者至少偶尔会丢弃接近包装日期标签的食物[1]。食品安全专家唐纳德·沙夫纳指出，"日期标签保证的是产品的质量，而不是产品的安全性"[1]。
目前美国在食品日期标签的使用上缺乏统一标准，全国使用超过50种不同的食品日期标签[1]。联邦政府唯一法律规定的过期日期产品是婴幼儿配方奶粉[1]。为了解决这一问题，加州于7月1日生效的新法律要求制造商使用两个标准化标签："Best If Used By"（最佳食用期）用于反映产品质量，以及"Use By"（使用期限）用于食品安全[1]。纽约州议员也最近通过了类似措施，正在等待州长凯西·霍楚尔的签署[1]。
More than 80 percent of American consumers discard food approaching its package date label at least occasionally, according to a 2019 study from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.[1] Food safety experts argue this widespread practice constitutes significant waste, as these labels primarily indicate product freshness rather than safety.[1] The federal government mandates expiration dating only for infant formula, leaving the broader food industry to use over 50 different types of date labeling systems.[1]
California has become the first state to address the confusion by implementing standardized labeling requirements that took effect on July 1.[1] The new law requires manufacturers to use two clearly defined labels: "Best If Used By" to indicate quality and optimal flavor, and "Use By" to signal the point at which food may pose a safety risk.[1] New York lawmakers have passed similar legislation awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul's signature.[1] Food safety expert Donald Schaffner underscores the distinction, noting that "date labels guarantee product quality, not product safety."[1]