Food Labeling: Safety, Sustainability, and Cost Savings

“In an effort to reduce food loss and waste, these changes will give consumers clear and consistent information when it comes to date labeling on the food they buy,” says Al Almanza, USDA deputy under secretary for food safety. “This new guidance can help consumers save money and curb the amount of wholesome food going in the trash.”

Should these changes be adopted, restaurants, grocery stores, grab-and-go kiosks, and food manufacturers and processing companies will update their dating protocols. Labeling technologies are available to make the process relatively easy. Standardizing food labels to provide consistent information will help consumers feel safer about the quality of their food and help reduce waste.

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Carte is category manager of food safety at DayMark Safety Systems, manufacturer of grab-and-go food-labeling terminals. Reach her at [email protected].