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Harvard study finds  expiration labels are misleading
on food, Supplements, and medication

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Don’t Let Food Dates Fool You

A Harvard Law School study found that food date labels—like “sell by” or “best before”—are about freshness, not safety. This confusion causes Americans to throw out billions of pounds of perfectly good food each year.

  • Labels Mislead: Most dates reflect quality, not when food becomes unsafe.

  • Massive Waste: 35 million tons of food are wasted in the U.S. yearly, 3 billion pounds due to date confusion.

  • Money Lost: Food waste costs consumers billions annually.

  • Younger Consumers at Risk: Gen Z and millennials rely heavily on dates, while older adults often use sight, taste, and smell.

  • A Push for Change: Experts urge national date label standards to reduce waste.

but mean while at McGary’s Discount Groceries we are doing our part to prevent food waste. This is how we’re able to offer quality products—including past-dated items, damaged packages, discontinued lines, overruns, and liquidation goods—at deeply discounted prices.

Years of Experience

At McGary’s Discount Groceries, we use over 13 years of experience to bring Tucson high-quality groceries at low prices.

When it comes to frozen foods, date labels indicate peak quality, not safety. In fact, frozen foods are considered non-perishable and can remain safe for years when stored properly. Freezing at 0°F halts microbial growth, preventing spoilage and foodborne illness.

Proper storage is key. Always keep frozen items at or below 0°F, and for best quality, refer to storage time guidelines. But rest assured—frozen food that’s been stored right stays safe and usable well beyond its date

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https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/food-product-dating

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The FDA estimates that 133 billion pounds of food are wasted annually. While much of this waste is beyond consumers' control, the FDA believes that expiration dates contribute to 25% of this unnecessary waste, leading to the discarding of perfectly consumable food.

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