Sell by? Use by?

The grocery industry is turning to voluntary standards to help reduce confusion in the dates that are currently printed on perishable products.

Because each company determines how to use the labels, there is no single standard. Some companies choose "use by" while others choose "best before".

The Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute have teamed up with WalMart to recommend voluntary standards aimed at simplifying these labels.

On Wednesday, those two groups, and Walmart, announced that they had agreed to whittle that lexicon to just two phrases: “best if used by” and “use by.”

They said they hoped the change, which is voluntary, would be embraced by the vast majority of food manufacturers and producers sometime next year.

Walmart, the nation’s largest grocery retailer, said it strongly encouraged its suppliers to use “best if used by” on products that might not taste or function as well beyond the specified date, but were nonetheless safe to consume. The company also encouraged suppliers to save “use by” for the handful of products that are highly perishable and could pose a health hazard if kept too long.

Sounds like an excellent initiative. I wonder if this should be a template for a healthcare model?

NY Times: Sell By? Use By?