Best By Confusion
Consumer misunderstanding around “best by” dates contributes to food waste, experts agree. Retail practices, manufacturers’ decisions, and lack of regulations aren’t helping.
Consumers share a huge part of the blame for food waste. But in defense of western households, they get very little help from expiration dates on the food they purchase, despite the highly sophisticated supply chains that depend on precision everywhere else.
How are consumers supposed to interpret the date on the package? Consumers’ typical response is to take no chances with disappointing sensory experiences or food poisoning and to jettison foods by, or even before, specified dates, witho…
Manual Feature
Latest News
Food Choice Reality Check
Martin Slayne, PhD, calls for ending the finger-pointing and focusing on collaboration, evidence-based science, and meaningful solutions for healthful food choices.
Targeting Older Consumers
Older adults, numbering 124.4 million in 2025, represent an important and potentially untapped market for food and beverage companies.
Morning Meal Musts: Affordable, Portable, Protein-Rich
Global flavors, nostalgia, and better-for-you innovations add zest to the breakfast occasion.
3 Questions for Sungeun Cho, New CRISPR Research, and More
News items about the food system
What Consumers Want in 2026
Worn down by inflation and uncertain economic conditions, food and beverage shoppers want products that deliver tangible benefits per dollar.