Stop Wasting Food Over Dates | Raleigh News

Tossing food over date labels? You’re not alone—and you might be wasting perfectly good stuff. The U.S. uses over 50 different date labels, most indicating peak quality, not safety. A study shows 80% of us throw food away based on these dates. Only infant formula requires expiration dates by law. For most foods—canned goods, dry snacks, even unopened shelf-stable items—dates suggest best flavor, not safety. Use your senses: smell and taste can tell if it’s still good. California’s new law, taking effect July 1, will simplify labels to just two: “Best If Used By” for quality and “Use By” for safety. For raw meat, stay cautious; for most else, trust your judgment—mold or off smells mean toss, but stale crackers? Probably still safe. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/653277192646e436