1 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Savor production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: I'm Annie Reese and I'm Lauren Vogelbaum. And today we 3 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: have a classic episode for you about expiration dates. Yes, 4 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: and we were discussing before we started recording, how this 5 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: is another episode where al Capone shows up. Yeah, so 6 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:35,239 Speaker 1: so much gangster related intrigue, uh, and specifically al Capone 7 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 1: related intrigue within our food history system here in the 8 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: United States. True. True. One of my quarantine skills, as 9 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 1: I'm calling them, that I have picked up, uh, is 10 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: that I am very good. Now I can tell you 11 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: like how long a vegetable will last, Like what is 12 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: the link? Cabbage is your friend everybody. Cabbage will last 13 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: a long time if you take care of it well. 14 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: But that is like one of my most random quarantine 15 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: skills I've picked up was like, well, proctli three to 16 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: five days. I got it. I got it. Oh that's wonderful. 17 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: I'm you are so you're so much better at that 18 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: kind of thing than I am, because I definitely or 19 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: I mean, do you only know this because you have 20 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 1: let so many things go off? Because that's usually how 21 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: I mean, like two weeks later, I'm like, oh, man, 22 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: I bought asparagus three days. Um, No, I I researched 23 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: it because I, as you listeners know, I've been very 24 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: like every two to three weeks, I've got grocery shopping 25 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: and so I would make like my dinner plans would 26 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: be so intense because I would be how am I 27 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: going to make all of the stretch and last? And 28 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: so I would list out how long everything I was 29 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: planning to buy I would last them. From there, I 30 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: would order how I had to cook things. It's intense. No, 31 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: that is that is very you man, You're so much 32 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,679 Speaker 1: better at that than I. I I. This, this entire quarantine 33 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,639 Speaker 1: situation has been a whole lot of me being like 34 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: like really depressed and just going like, I don't know, 35 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: should we just order more Bangladeshi food? Like? Should I 36 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: just get how how much vindaloo can I eat in 37 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: a week? I mean, I support that too. Sounds lovely? 38 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: It is lovely. It is. It is heck and wonderful. Um. 39 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: And I love supporting our hard working local restaurants. Yes, yes, 40 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: very much. And it's certainly been interesting in terms of 41 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 1: expiration dates for me. Is that I have I normally 42 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: don't have so many. Um, like covered pantry foods like 43 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: a last like canned foods and stuff. And through this, 44 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 1: as you all know, I was talking about an Old 45 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 1: Bay episode. Now I couldn't get any Old day um. 46 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 1: It turns out I've had some this entire time. But 47 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: it was just like way in the back of all 48 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: these things I now have. And then I was like, 49 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: can spices go bad? I mean they can hypothetically, but 50 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: I mean like they could like lose flavor um or 51 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, if you open it and it 52 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: looks moldy, obviously that's not a good sign. I did. Yeah, yeah, 53 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: I found some moldy cheese. Oh yeah, I was like craft, 54 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: surely craft cheese. Never it was bad. And this cheese 55 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: I got right at the beginning of quarantine, so like 56 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: last March, and I opened it I think a week ago. 57 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: Oh no mold yeah yeah, I mean it is still 58 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: made of some amount of cheese. It wasn't stored properly, 59 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: just like close the wrapper around it. But that was 60 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: it because it's a big you know, that's my fault. 61 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: That was my bed. Okay, I did lose that cheese. Yeah, 62 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: that's you know, Hey, that's okay, that's okay. M h. 63 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 1: Luckily I had another block. Well, all of these unintentional 64 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: experiments aside, we do have a lot of actual scientific 65 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: facts and some history for you. Um, and so I 66 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 1: guess we will let former Annie and Lauren take it away. Hello, 67 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: and welcome to food Stuff. I'm Lauren Vogelbon, and today 68 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: we're talking about expiration dates and food safety. Yes, and 69 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: there's a lot of confusion and food waste generated by 70 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: these things. So this episode of food Stuff is best 71 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 1: if enjoyed immediately. Do you see what I did there? 72 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: I do and and and by by the way, if 73 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 1: if you think that this sounds like the most boring 74 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 1: topic ever possible, hey, it's very practical and be We 75 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: talk a lot about about gangsters in it, so it 76 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: is a lot more fascinating than even I or Lauren. 77 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: But yeah, I thought it was just gonna be like 78 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:33,359 Speaker 1: there's some confusion. Nope, nope, nope, gangsters. Yes, So let's 79 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 1: start with what they are. Exploration dates are dates weird, 80 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: I know, printed on the packaging of food or drink 81 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 1: that are the date recommended by the manufacturer that you 82 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: should consume the product by. Unlike what most people assume, 83 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: most of the time. They don't have anything to do 84 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: with food safety. Zero. Yeah. Nothing. The government, apart from 85 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 1: a few cases, has nothing to do with these dates. 86 00:05:57,720 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: And we are talking about the US federal government. By 87 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: the way, Um, they aren't regulated. The companies make them up. Yeah, yeah, 88 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: they're they're about They're about flavor and texture and enjoyment 89 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: of the food more than food safety. You've got best 90 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: buy used by and this is a voluntary date provided 91 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: by the manufacturers of shelf stable products like peanut butter mayonnaise, 92 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 1: and like Lauren said, it's more about like they want 93 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: you to consume it when they think it's going to 94 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: be the most flavorful or the best experience, or they 95 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: want you to consume it more quickly or throw it 96 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: away so you're to buy more. I don't know how 97 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: cynical you are, how you want to look at that, 98 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: but but yeah, it's it's a color, texture, taste stuff 99 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 1: like that. Yeah, but it should be fine. It has 100 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: nothing to do with food safety as long as you've 101 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: been storing it correctly. You can totally eat something after 102 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: a best buy or used by date. Yes, um, useful 103 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: website shout out eat by date dot com. It just 104 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,559 Speaker 1: has like a general um, not not looking at these dates, 105 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: but in general how long foods will ask. Yes, I 106 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:02,160 Speaker 1: thought it was really useful. I could look up like 107 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:06,480 Speaker 1: beer and it had all these days. It was cool. Yeah. 108 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: And there are researchers out there who test the tastiness 109 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: of food across its shelf life, by the way, like 110 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: like real professionals in a lab, not like folks like 111 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: me and Annie who will just eat anything and report 112 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: on it. No. Research companies provide this as a service 113 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: to food producers. They'll take a product and store it 114 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 1: in varying conditions like temperature and humidity and stuff, and 115 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: then have a panel of expert tasters grade the product 116 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: as time goes by. The producer of the food can 117 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: then pick a cut off point where and when they 118 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: think that the food is past its prime and well, 119 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: you know, perhaps not help their reputation as a food producer. Yes, 120 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: I think this is a job that I would very 121 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:50,119 Speaker 1: much enjoy be very bad at. I'm just like, that's fine, 122 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: it's fine, basically, yeah, yeah, it's just yeah. Yeah. Apart 123 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: from best buy used by you also have sell by 124 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: date and that is meant more as a island for 125 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: grocery stores so they know how long to display a product. 126 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: As a consumer, you probably want to buy something before 127 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: the cell by date UM, but you can keep it 128 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: at home past that date again, as long as you 129 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: store it safely. In the amount of time past the 130 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: date depends on the product see earlier again eat by 131 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: date dot com. Yes, Yes, UM expires on. If you're 132 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: thinking that you don't see that one frequently, that's because 133 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: you probably don't see it frequently. It's not used frequently 134 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: outside of baby formula UM and baby food some baby foods, 135 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: which are the only things in the US that the 136 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 1: federal government actually regulates when it comes to these food dates. Yeah, 137 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: baby foods are treated differently because some of the nutrients 138 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: some nutrients and foods degrade over time, and the government 139 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 1: wanted to assure parents that their kids are getting no 140 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: less than the amount of nutrients that are listed on 141 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 1: these food labels. UM. Also, in the case of formula, 142 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,679 Speaker 1: the consistency could could change over time, making it more 143 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 1: difficult for the formula to pass through a bottle, making 144 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 1: it more difficult for the baby to get food. We 145 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: all want babies to get food, yes, yes, and knowing 146 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: the right amount of nutrients is very important at that 147 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 1: absolute stage in life, very very much, very very much. UM. 148 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 1: Some states, in particular New York surprise, have their own regulations. 149 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: That was no shade, Good job, New York. In some cases, 150 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: two dates are printed on the product, both federal and state. UM. Eggs, milk, 151 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: and meats are the most common products to have state regulations. 152 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 1: Makes sense. Ye. You might also see packing codes, which 153 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: usually appear as long strings of numbers and letters that 154 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:42,319 Speaker 1: help and recall situations, primarily and for manufacturers and groceries 155 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 1: to know what they might want to rotate in terms 156 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 1: of products. Those are internal thing or like industry things 157 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: that don't worry if you've never been able to make 158 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 1: sense of them. I haven't. Yeah, I try all the time. 159 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: It's not you, it's not you. It's on it's on purpose. 160 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: It's not meant to make sense. I feel better about myself. 161 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: I tell me too. Uh. The UK's Waste and Resources 162 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: Action Program reported that fort of consumers in the UK 163 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: misunderstood the date labels. So we're not alone on food 164 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: products and that up to to food waste can be 165 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: linked to that misunderstanding. So it's pretty big deal. But 166 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,559 Speaker 1: more on the food waste thing later. First, let's talk 167 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:27,199 Speaker 1: about how we got got here in the first place. Yes, So, actually, 168 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: expiration dates are kind of new kids on the block. 169 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: Um And according to a popular theory in the US, 170 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 1: it started with al Capone. Al Capone. Al Capone, a 171 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: park ranger at Alcatraz claims that in the nineteen thirties, 172 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:48,959 Speaker 1: Capone and Capone told him this story. Uh, lobbied for 173 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 1: milk bottle dating to ensure the safety of the city's children. 174 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: And that's a quote from the guard I'm going to 175 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 1: guess most of our listeners are familiar with a Capone, probably, 176 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: but if you aren't, here's a brief bio. Capone was 177 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: a shall we say business man. Sure, that's a very 178 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 1: polite way of putting it. It is based in Chicago, 179 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 1: who made most of his money selling alcohol illegally during 180 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 1: Prohibition and was eventually caught in sant Alcatraz. I didn't 181 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:18,679 Speaker 1: know this. He was caught pro evading dogs as he 182 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 1: should have been paying on his alcohol sales, not the 183 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: numerous violent crimes attributed to him. Man. Yeah, Also, he 184 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: opened the first soup kitchen during the Great Depression. I 185 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: have to re visit that yeah. Oh, absolutely, yeah. In 186 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: this version of the story, after a family member got 187 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: sick from drinking milk a family member, our friend stories 188 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: a little blurry on the details. Al Capone took an 189 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 1: interest in the dairy industry. Also, he kind of knew 190 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: that eventually this alcohol thing, what's gonna what's gonna run out, 191 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: like like prohibition was going to end eventually, and he 192 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 1: wanted to back up plan exactly. He started lobbying the 193 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: Chicago City Council to put date stamps on milk, and 194 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 1: his efforts paid off. A law was passed. Capone and 195 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: already bought up all the equipment needed to stamp these 196 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: dates on the packaging. Oh I see, yes, as a 197 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: way to take over the dairy industry. Yeah. And by 198 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: the time for abish and ended, he had trucks ready 199 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: to transport and distribute milk. He was prepared. That's so, 200 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: that's so clever. I have all of these liquid transportation trucks. Yes, wow, yes, 201 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: al Capone, I know and listen to this. At the time, 202 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:33,719 Speaker 1: the Deemster's Union required that only local milk could be 203 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 1: transported by only union members. Capone, wanting to import cheaper 204 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: Wisconsin dairy and use cheaper non union members to transport it. 205 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: Allegedly kidnapped to the union president and used the fifty 206 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: thousand dollar ransom he got out of it to purchase 207 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: milk processor Meadow More dairies Wow. Yeah, which he gave 208 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: as a gift to his attorney three months before he 209 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: went to prison. See, he thought it was gonna be 210 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: a boring old episode. I had no idea that kidnapping 211 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 1: was going to enter the picture. I know, I in 212 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:12,559 Speaker 1: expiry dates, that's okay, and al Capone right, so great, 213 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: So maybe possibly have him to thank for the dates 214 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: on milk at least. Yeah. However, despite his impressive efforts, 215 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: it wasn't really until the nineteen seventies, That are, until 216 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: nineteen seventies, specifically, the expiration dates really became a thing 217 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: in the United States on a larger level. Yes, as 218 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 1: more and more of the food we were eating was 219 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 1: packaged and perhaps we weren't really sure what was in it. 220 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 1: We wanted to know that the ingredients and the things 221 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 1: we were putting in our bodies was safe and fresh. 222 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: Weird yeah, Uh. Nineteen seve survey of two d fifty 223 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: thousand consumers found that a majority wanted a dating system 224 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 1: and named a dating system as the most useful indicator 225 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:58,199 Speaker 1: for freshness. So people are really pushing for this. Yeah. 226 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: Skipping ahead to nine, the National Uniform Food Safety Labeling 227 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: Act came before Congress, which called for both sell by 228 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 1: and used by dates for quality safety and quote nutrient availability. 229 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: I love that it failed, as have five others like it, 230 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: introduced between two thousand one and two nine. Interesting side 231 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: know to kep running across our home state of Georgia 232 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: is one of two states that requires dates on pre 233 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: wrapped sandwiches. Yeah, that's such a specific thing. It kept 234 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: popping up all right, Go Georgia. Products like shellfish, milk, eggs, 235 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: and anything labeled keep refrigerated are also required to have 236 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 1: expiration dates and are checked regularly by inspectors and crieck. 237 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: Note in Europe, it's against the law not to have 238 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: a sell by date. The history of this practice in 239 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: Europe is fairly short as well, and also kind of 240 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: around the same timeline. Mark and Spencer's originally started using 241 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: it in their storeroom in the nineteen fifties, but it 242 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: didn't appear on the shelves until nineteen seventy, and the 243 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: term sell By came into use in nineteen seventy three. 244 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: The company takes so much pride in this they actually 245 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: used it as a selling point in an ad campaign 246 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: that they came up with it. Yeah, that's great. I 247 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: know you can find it online up. I mean, I 248 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: guess it's a good ragging point, like like we're exacting, Yeah, 249 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: eat our food exactly. We've been We've been ahead of 250 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: the game on this, so you could trust us. Yes, okay. 251 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 1: So that's the short history of expiration dates in specifically 252 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: the US and Europe. So let's look at the health 253 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: and safety general rules. Yeah yeah, and gets more into 254 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 1: the into the food waste area of the conversation. But 255 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 1: first let's take a quick break for a word from 256 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: our sponsor, and we're back. Thank you sponsored, Yes, thank you. Okay. 257 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: So the marketing end of expiration dates, aside fresh foods 258 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 1: will eventually spoil no, yes, by by which I mean 259 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 1: that microorganisms will start eating them if you do not. 260 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: The mold and bacteria and yeasts that cause food to 261 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 1: change color and scent over time. Not all of them 262 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: are our path pathogenic, Like not all of them are 263 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 1: are harmful, um, but generally they do make food unpleasant. Yeah, Um, 264 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 1: you can prevent their growth by practicing safe food handling. 265 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: What I know, crazy stuff stuff like I mean and 266 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: and and. Part of this is going to sound a 267 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: little bit like dub but but I think it's it's 268 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: worthwhile for for everyone to remind themselves of these kind 269 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: of practices every now and again. I agree. So, yeah, 270 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: you know, put refrigerated and for and foods in your 271 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: cart last at the supermarket. Uh, keep them cool during transport, 272 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: and get them into the fridge promptly once you're home. Meat, eggs, milk, 273 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: and other things that spoil more easily should be kept 274 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: in the coldest part of the fridge, away from the door, 275 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 1: towards the bottom and the back, because every time you 276 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:19,640 Speaker 1: open the door, you're letting a little bit of warm 277 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: air in. So anything kept in the door specifically will 278 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: get exposed to a little bit of a temperature flux. 279 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 1: If you take stuff out of the fridge and then 280 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:28,639 Speaker 1: repackage it for any reason, like you know, maybe you 281 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: only cook two chicken thighs from a larger pack. Uh. 282 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:33,239 Speaker 1: Make sure that your hands and anything else that they 283 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 1: come into contact with are clean. Um, and don't leave 284 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: things out of the fridge for longer than is necessary. 285 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:43,439 Speaker 1: The United States Food Safety and Inspection Service says that 286 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: two hours at room temperature is the hard limit for 287 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: fresh dairy and meat products like a milk or chicken salad, 288 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: or like a cooked sausage or something like that. Wow, 289 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: I didn't realize there's a hard limit. This really puts 290 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 1: a damper on some barbecues. And I've been to Oh absolutely, yeah, 291 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:05,160 Speaker 1: there's there's all kinds of food temperature regulation. Uh uh, 292 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:07,200 Speaker 1: I'll just try not to think about it too hard. 293 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: Of course, even when you are careful, there are some 294 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: food borne pathogens out there that can make you sick. 295 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: Um stuff that was introduced before or during the food's 296 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: original packaging. Um, Like like maybe the animal that your 297 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: meat comes from could have been infected, or like we 298 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 1: particles of dirt could have gotten in at some point, 299 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 1: or maybe the soil that a vegetable was grown in 300 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 1: harbored some kind of bacteria or some other contaminant. Uh. 301 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: Cooking food to an appropriate temperature will generally get rid 302 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 1: of this sort of thing. And you can check Google 303 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 1: for science. Science is the latest temperature recommendations for whatever 304 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: specific food you're preparing or preparing to prepare. Uh. And 305 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,160 Speaker 1: and also just make sure that you don't cross contaminate, 306 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: like a use separate knives and cutting boards to handle 307 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: things that are going to be cooked and things that 308 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,360 Speaker 1: are going to be eaten raw your salads, anything like that, 309 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,159 Speaker 1: and and do wash your hands after handling raw meats 310 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 1: and eggs. Canned goods, meanwhile, are basically safe forever as 311 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: long as they're still sealed. UM. Dented cans are totally fine, um, 312 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: as long as the dent is not across the lid 313 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: seals or the side seam, which which can disrupt the seal. Uh. 314 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: Do not eat from bloated cans, however. The bloat is 315 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: caused by bacteria growing inside, which is both gross and gross. 316 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: It reminds me of the last of us, the zombies. 317 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: The bloaters they get really big because the bacteria inside. 318 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 1: Oh I totally put that out of my brain. But 319 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:42,640 Speaker 1: you're completely correct. You're welcome, Lauren. Oh, thank you. Okay, 320 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: but back to food after thinking about zombies. That's a 321 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: regular podcast for us. Oh absolutely, okay. Alright, So so 322 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: when I said forever, I like really kind of meant forever. Um. 323 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: There's one experiment in the nineteen seventies in which researchers 324 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: opened up stuff like a like forty year old canned 325 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: corn and hundred year old canned oysters, and they found 326 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 1: that the foods inside looked and smelled basically like any 327 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 1: freshly canned counterpart that you might find on a store shelf. 328 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: Analysis did find that that there were slightly lower levels 329 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 1: of some nutrients like vitamin C. They didn't taste any 330 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:25,159 Speaker 1: of them. Oh well that's impressive nonetheless, But yeah, in 331 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: a in a zombie situation, ye can can canned goods 332 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: canned goods forever. Yeah. Um. But speaking of science, yes, 333 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: I did want to put in that that food scientists 334 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,360 Speaker 1: have brought us a lot of really incredible innovations over 335 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: the past few few decades. You know, ingredients can be 336 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: added to stuff like processed meats and cheeses to prevent 337 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 1: them from spoiling. Fresh vegetables can be packed or stored 338 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: in controlled atmosphere environments that prevent them from spoiling. Fresh 339 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: meats can be similarly stored and packed. Um. And and 340 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:04,199 Speaker 1: those absorbent purge pads help prevent potentially contaminated juices from 341 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: getting everywhere cross contaminating your salad all that unfun stuff. Um. 342 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: Also fun thing that I did not know about those 343 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: purge pads that come in your packs of meat. Lots 344 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: of big chain grocers put anti theft tags in those 345 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 1: purge pads. They just sneak them right in there. So 346 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 1: no more smuggling raw chicken out of Kroger Anny. Sorry, 347 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: sorry about it. Well, how did does it deactivate when 348 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:36,119 Speaker 1: you buy it? Like you scan it? Yeah, when they 349 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,120 Speaker 1: when they scan it, it deactivates at the same time. 350 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: I can't believe that I've never heard of that, So sneaky. 351 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 1: All y'all meat smugglers have to have to find a different, 352 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: different and fund a different racket. All right, Okay, so 353 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: let's talk about food waste, right, Yes, all of this 354 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: confusion about expiration dates has led too with a lot 355 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:04,959 Speaker 1: of food waste and a lot of food born illness. Um. 356 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:09,679 Speaker 1: In general, American Americans throw away of the stuff we 357 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 1: buy without consuming it, which is an insane number. Yeah. 358 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 1: That short circuits the straight cat's brain. Yeah, Lauren and 359 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: I are both straight cats, which means anything. Yeah, especially 360 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: if it's free. If it's free, that's where we get 361 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:28,199 Speaker 1: in trouble. Yeah. Estimates by the way for the cost 362 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 1: of this food amount to six to nine hundred dollars 363 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 1: worth of food per household per year UM, and it 364 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 1: is a global problem. Worldwide's estimated that about one point 365 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 1: three billion metric tons of food go to waste every year. UH. 366 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 1: One study I read out of the UK CIRCU found 367 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,800 Speaker 1: that date confusion only accounted for one fifth of food waste, 368 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:54,639 Speaker 1: so it's certainly not the main culprit, but it is 369 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: a pretty substantial part of the equation UM, because I 370 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 1: guess you could say that fear of expired food and 371 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 1: poor planning is really a big part of the problem 372 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 1: UM accounts for a lot of food waste, so a 373 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:12,679 Speaker 1: better dating system could certainly help. According to a survey 374 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:17,400 Speaker 1: conducted by global public health organizations in s F International, 375 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: around of Americans keep products past their expiration date, which 376 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: could maybe put them at risk for food born illness. 377 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 1: On the other hand, the survey found throw food out 378 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 1: based on the best use by date yeah, and thirty 379 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:38,160 Speaker 1: six for the sell by dates when it's typically still 380 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 1: safe for consumption, and that generates obviously a lot of 381 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: food waste. Six of Americans and I have to say, 382 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: including me, until I did this, UH, say they rely 383 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:50,680 Speaker 1: on their senses. Yeah, but it's it's a good old 384 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 1: sniff test. If it smells okay, it's okay, it's probably fine. 385 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: But according to the survey, uh well, the scientists who 386 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 1: authored the survey, the germs that cause most food born 387 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:06,640 Speaker 1: illness can't be detected via site or smell. The UK 388 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 1: study I mentioned earlier found that looking or smelling off 389 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 1: quote was the number one reason respondents gay for tossing food. 390 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: So the report also found that of the respondents avoid 391 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: eating at other people's, including friends homes, due to food 392 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: safety concerns, which that kind of made me giggle. Yeah, 393 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: we we all have that friend, right, I have one 394 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,720 Speaker 1: person in mind right now. I would I would still 395 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:36,440 Speaker 1: eat the food, but I would be very like delicate 396 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 1: and cautious about it. I would take my time. A 397 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: National Resource Defense Counsel survey referenced in Time magazine reported 398 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: an even higher number of food waste, writing that nine 399 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 1: of Americans throughout perfectly good food, and that is much 400 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:58,360 Speaker 1: of of our food supply is discarded uneaten every year. 401 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: I think the difference in the number there is that 402 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:05,080 Speaker 1: they included farms and grocery stores, whereas the study I 403 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 1: previously mentioned only focus on the consumer. This equates to 404 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 1: billions of pounds of food, about twenty per person a month, 405 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 1: loss of of fresh water used to grow or just 406 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 1: get these food items to the store to your plate, 407 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 1: and one hundred sixty five billion dollars per year. According 408 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: to this, rotting food also accounts for America's methane emissions 409 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 1: food rotting in landfills. Yeah. Throwing away out of date 410 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,880 Speaker 1: food is estimated to cost grocery stores two thousand, three 411 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:43,360 Speaker 1: hundred a day dollars used dollars a day. Yeah. However, 412 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:47,959 Speaker 1: not all postdated food goes to waste. Some can be 413 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: given to charity depending on local laws or shelters, food banks, 414 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:56,200 Speaker 1: stuff like that. Um. Some food that's past its date 415 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 1: goes to salvage grocers and discount stores, which are places 416 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 1: itself food a little closer to the end of its 417 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 1: life for lower prices. Um. Some goes to grocery actions. 418 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 1: Grocery actions, which I had never heard was a thing, 419 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:10,680 Speaker 1: But it's totally a thing, like you can buy kind 420 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 1: of in bulk. Uh, this like slightly expired, like like 421 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 1: past sell by date foods oh, in auction format. I 422 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,640 Speaker 1: gotta look into that I know. Um. Some even goes 423 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: to exclusively past date grocery markets. Um. For for example, 424 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: the guy who founded Trader Joe's opened one of these 425 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 1: in Boston, and there was one opened in Copenhagen in Denmark. 426 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: These are places itself exclusively stuff that's past its sell 427 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:40,720 Speaker 1: by date but still is wholesome and you know, right, 428 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:44,960 Speaker 1: probably won't make you sick, yes, and equal chance with 429 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: anything else I know. John Oliver did a piece on 430 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 1: this on food waste recently, and that he talked about 431 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 1: how there are a lot of laws and in the 432 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 1: US in particular, that make it very difficult to donate 433 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:03,600 Speaker 1: if you're um, which is very very frustrating. Yes, so 434 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: I guess we'll we'll come back to that then and 435 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: a whole other upsetting, depressing episode. We haven't had a 436 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: really depressing one lately though, so yeah, okay, So that's 437 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:20,359 Speaker 1: a look at the food waste that is generated in 438 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 1: part due to confusion and fear kind of surrounding expiration 439 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 1: dates and our misunderstanding of them. So let's take a 440 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: quick break. But when we get back, we'll talk about 441 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 1: the future. Yes, possible solutions, yes, But right after a 442 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 1: quick break from a word from our sponsor and we're back. 443 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:53,159 Speaker 1: Thank you sponsor, Yes, thank you. So. Last year, Congress 444 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 1: introduced the Food Date Labeling Act of in an attempt 445 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: to standardize the date labels Prime Merrily to better communicate 446 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,159 Speaker 1: when a little wiggle room is okay and when it 447 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:07,919 Speaker 1: absolutely isn't. A study in the UK came to the 448 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: conclusion that clarity and labeling could reduce food waste by 449 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:15,879 Speaker 1: and if if you're thinking, well, UK keeps coming up 450 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: a lot here. They they've done a lot to try 451 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:20,680 Speaker 1: to fix this and they were one of the first 452 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,120 Speaker 1: at least that I could find studies countries that did 453 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 1: a like massive study on it and the problems it 454 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:32,920 Speaker 1: caused and food waste. Also in the U s d 455 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 1: A distributed a document suggesting companies simply used the single 456 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 1: label best if used by and in seventeen, the Food 457 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 1: Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association are advising that 458 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:52,200 Speaker 1: the majority of food manufacturers are retailers that fall under 459 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 1: their joint umbrella to replace the current dates with these 460 00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: two best if used by for most foods and used 461 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 1: by for products that potentially become less safe with ah, yeah, 462 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:11,360 Speaker 1: that is clear. Yeah. Um, and in the European Parliament 463 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 1: pledged to reduce food waste by by and a part 464 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 1: of their ways they were going to achieve this was 465 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 1: by better clarity in the expression date huh yeah so 466 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:26,920 Speaker 1: so yeah. I hope that, um, I hope that some 467 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 1: of these measures wind up getting getting through and be 468 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: better affecting food safety and and uh reducing food waste 469 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 1: for all of us. I agree, And I have to say, uh, 470 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 1: this episode was very helpful for me to research because 471 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 1: I have always kind of been confused about what exactly 472 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,560 Speaker 1: that date meant, like could I eat it fast? Yeah? 473 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,640 Speaker 1: And see above restray cat. My answer was usually just 474 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:58,720 Speaker 1: like it's probably fine, yes, mine too if my stomach 475 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 1: is a little upset tomorrow. I don't know. That brings 476 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:09,680 Speaker 1: us to the end of this classic episode on expiration dates. 477 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:14,280 Speaker 1: That is one thing I love about our job, Lauren, 478 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:18,560 Speaker 1: is sometimes back when we had gatherings in the office, 479 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:23,400 Speaker 1: UM people ask us like questions as if we have expertise, 480 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 1: and I remember, um, our office manager are brilliant. Office 481 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 1: manager asked me once like how long is it okay 482 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 1: to leave out potato salad or something? And I was like, 483 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 1: I've probably fine, Like I didn't have a good she 484 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:48,440 Speaker 1: just threw it away. Yeah. Yeah, that's that's frequently, you know, 485 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 1: when when in doubt, I asked the internet mhm or 486 00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 1: I don't know. We we do end. Yeah, we did 487 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 1: end that episode with a lot of talk about would 488 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 1: waste and I do want to come back and and 489 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:05,960 Speaker 1: do that cool, depressing episode about food waste. Now we 490 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:09,160 Speaker 1: never got around to that one. Um uh, partially because 491 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: I was I was looking it up in that bill 492 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 1: that we talked about. UM for in the United States 493 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: hasn't done anything since it was first introduced. It's just 494 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:22,479 Speaker 1: been sitting there um in committee and uh, nothing has happened. 495 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 1: The EU is really stepping it up though, they're they're 496 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 1: taking a lot of good steps. And yeah, I would 497 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 1: love to love to talk more about about all of that, 498 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 1: and we will one day, one day, but that day 499 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:39,600 Speaker 1: is not today. It is not. Listeners, We would love 500 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 1: to hear from you. What quarantine skills have you picked out? 501 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:46,520 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, you can let us know. You can email 502 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 1: us at hello at savior pod dot com. We are 503 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: also on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, 504 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:54,720 Speaker 1: and Instagram at savor pod. And we do hope to 505 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 1: hear from you. Savor is production of I Heart Radio. 506 00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:59,400 Speaker 1: For more podcasts in my Heart Radio, you can visit 507 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 1: the I Heart rat app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 508 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows. Thanks as always to our 509 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:07,440 Speaker 1: super producers Dylan Fagan and Andrew Howard. Thanks to you 510 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:09,160 Speaker 1: for listening, and we hope that lots of market things 511 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:17,920 Speaker 1: are coming your way.