Dive Brief:
Consumers are confused by what Use By and Best If Used By labels mean on their food, according to a study published this month in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. In an online study involving 2,607 U.S. adults, only 64% could correctly explain what the Best If Used By label meant. Just 44.8% were able to describe what the Use By label meant.
Giving consumers a brief explainer of what each label meant increased the level of understanding. Post-explanation, 82% could correctly articulate what a Best If Used By label meant, and 82.4% properly explained what Use By meant.
Date labeling is not federally standardized and has historically been more of a source of confusion than information about whether food is good to eat or should be thrown away.