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New USDA Guidelines Will Prevent Thousands of Pounds of Food Waste

New USDA Guidelines Will Prevent Thousands of Pounds of Food Waste
The USDA is planning on nixing "use by" and "sell by" dates so consumers stop throwing away perfectly edible food out of confusion.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to clarify expiration date printing so that less good food will be thrown out by American families.

That's why the USDA is telling manufacturers to only start using "best if used by" stamps.

The "best if used by" doesn't count as an expiration date either – it usually amounts to the food seller's best guess at the product's freshest quality peak. Milk, however, can usually last up to a week after a typically given expiration time stamp, while eggs can stay fresh for weeks after the "use by" guidelines.

"This new guidance can help consumers save money and curb the amount of wholesome food going in the trash," said Al Almanza, USDA deputy under secretary for food safety.

Don't Throw This Story Away: Click To Share (Photo by USDA, CC)

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