Roughly one third of all food produced in the world is lost or . Some of it spoils it reaches stores, while much is away by shops and households. At the time, millions of people do not have to eat. Food banks try to this gap by unsold but safe food giving it to families need. Reducing waste also greenhouse gas emissions.

Many people throw away food simply because of the date printed on the package. Yet these dates often have little to do with safety. In the United States, labels such as ‘best by’, ‘sell by’, and ‘use by’ are not regulated by federal law, except on infant formula. Manufacturers decide what the dates mean and how they are calculated.

In most cases, a ‘best by’ date indicates when food will be at its highest quality, not when it becomes unsafe. A box of crackers may taste slightly less fresh after that date, but it is usually still fine to eat. ‘Sell by’ dates are intended mainly to help stores manage their stock.

Surveys suggest that many consumers misunderstand these labels and discard food that is still safe. Researchers estimate that confusion over dates is responsible for a significant portion of household food waste.

To reduce this confusion, food industry groups in the United States have encouraged companies to use just two phrases: ‘Best if used by’ for quality and ‘Use by’ for safety. Several other countries have taken similar steps. Simple, consistent labels could save both money and food.