Fact Sheets

Five Things to Know: How Confusing Food Date Labels Are Hitting Consumers' Wallets

ReFED | March 4, 2026

Confusion over food date labels remains one of the most persistent, yet solvable, drivers of household food waste in the United States. At a time when grocery prices remain high and households are actively trying to save money, understanding how consumers use (and struggle with) date labels offers a critical opportunity to ensure food that is still edible—despite passing a mostly arbitrary date—is consumed rather than sent to the trash. Drawing from insights from a recent YouGov survey, here are five things to know about food date labels.

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