Do you ever feel totally confused by the “use by,” sell by,” and “best before” dates on packaging for food purchased in the grocery store? It’s tough to know if those are suggested dates or actual advice because the food items may no longer be safe to eat. As it turns out, America throws away $165 billion in food every year, according to a recent study. And many of these package dates have nothing to do with our safety and are geared toward manufactures limiting sales to only their freshest products. Many stores are forced to throw away food far before actual expiration.
In an effort to stop this high-level of waste, the former president of Trader Joe’s, Doug Rauch is launching his latest idea: an expired food market. Taking tax-deductible food donations from other grocery stores, the expired food market aims to provide perishables and produce to those who wouldn’t normally be able to afford these items. Milk may even retail for as low as $1 a gallon.
An Expired Food Market Opens for Business in Boston
“The number-one leading problem is affordable nutrition, for the 50 million Americans who are food insecure, their solution is not a full stomach. It’s a healthy meal.” Doug Rauch
Of course there are mixed feelings over this project – what do you think of an expired food market?
