4 ms·

So much food is thrown away by grocery stores on the expiration date or just the day after. Usually you can eat that for a few more days, but grocery stores do

by flor1s 9y ago

So much food is thrown away by grocery stores on the expiration date or just the day after. Usually you can eat that for a few more days, but grocery stores do not want to take the risk of selling it.

ekianjo 9y ago
They cant even take the risk because you know, its illegal.
- distances 9y ago
  That's why in many countries the food gets distributed to those in need just before the date. It's minimal loss to the store as people don't anyway want food dated for tomorrow.
  - jpalomaki 9y ago
    Might be even win for the store as they need to pay for the waste handling.
- latch 9y ago
  Source? Only a tiny subset of food is legally required to have an expiration date. In the UK this is the "use by" date. In Canada it's the "expiration date." But, you'll find this, or "best by" dates on way more products, because they want to move more product. In the US, for example, only infant formula is required by federal law to have an expiration date (1). The same page states that: "Foods not exhibiting signs of spoilage should be wholesome and may be sold, purchased, donated and consumed beyond the labeled "Best if Used By" date." (1) https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/food-product-dating/food-product-dating/ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety...
  - IAmEveryone 9y ago
    In the UK, and the rest of the EU, there are only two packaged goods that do not need an expiration date: water, and table salt without iodine. The other exception is fresh fruits and vegetables. The legality and morality of donating food past its expiration date is somewhat murky and different depending on jurisdiction. I know France passed a law specifically allowing the practice, and its at least tolerated in Germany.
toomanybeersies 9y ago
I used to get free vegetables and bread from the supermarket this way. The vegetables were kept in a separate wheely-bin from the skips, so it was a lot more hygienic than just diving into a dumpster with everything mixed in. The bread was also kept in separate bags, next to the dumpsters. I think that all the discarded bread and vegetables went to local farmers for animal feed.

by flor1s 9y ago

ekianjo 9y ago

They cant even take the risk because you know, its illegal.

distances 9y ago
That's why in many countries the food gets distributed to those in need just before the date. It's minimal loss to the store as people don't anyway want food dated for tomorrow.
- jpalomaki 9y ago
  Might be even win for the store as they need to pay for the waste handling.
latch 9y ago
Source? Only a tiny subset of food is legally required to have an expiration date. In the UK this is the "use by" date. In Canada it's the "expiration date." But, you'll find this, or "best by" dates on way more products, because they want to move more product. In the US, for example, only infant formula is required by federal law to have an expiration date (1). The same page states that: "Foods not exhibiting signs of spoilage should be wholesome and may be sold, purchased, donated and consumed beyond the labeled "Best if Used By" date." (1) https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/food-product-dating/food-product-dating/ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety...
- IAmEveryone 9y ago
  In the UK, and the rest of the EU, there are only two packaged goods that do not need an expiration date: water, and table salt without iodine. The other exception is fresh fruits and vegetables. The legality and morality of donating food past its expiration date is somewhat murky and different depending on jurisdiction. I know France passed a law specifically allowing the practice, and its at least tolerated in Germany.

toomanybeersies 9y ago

I used to get free vegetables and bread from the supermarket this way. The vegetables were kept in a separate wheely-bin from the skips, so it was a lot more hygienic than just diving into a dumpster with everything mixed in. The bread was also kept in separate bags, next to the dumpsters. I think that all the discarded bread and vegetables went to local farmers for animal feed.