 |
A Closer Look at Expired Foods in the South Los Angeles Community By Tanishia Wright
A recent study done by the University of Southern California looked at Expired Foods in low-income areas of South Los Angeles found over a third of the groceries carried expired poultry, beef or dairy products over a one-year period. The issue of finding expired perishable products is common occurrence experienced by many residents in South Los Angeles and many other communities in similar situations with limited access to quality food and stores. It is important to note that these communities that have these challenge of access to quality food often face higher rates of chronic diseases and obesity. Legislation and enforcement of removing expired food from store shelves nationally remains a challenge. There are some limited federal regulations around some perishable products, infant formulas and medication. Overall, there are no federal laws that forbid the sale of food beyond their expiration dates to unknowing consumers. In some states, local counties like Rockland County and Westchester County in New York have implemented legislation to enforce monitoring and removing expired food from store shelves. Majority of the states including California still lack strong regulations to remove expired food products off store shelves. The freshness labels found on perishable food is one gauge that consumers use to find how fresh their food really is. Since many individuals do not grow or package their own food, these labels “sell-by” or “use-by” is what we trust and refer to for freshness when we purchase items at our local grocery retailers. The use of expiration labels on food is also called “open self-life dating” have helped consumers use legible terms such as day, month, and year as a guide when the food was packaged or by when it should be sold or used. Most consumers have interpreted the labels to measure food freshness but it’s intended to be tied to quality of freshness. Originally, when food labeling first started in the early 1930’s, the label dates were originally mean to aid in controlling food inventories and to assist in any product recalls and contaminated foods. Local and state governments play a key leadership role if expired foods are to be regulated and monitored. Currently, at the federal level baby food/formula and medication are the only type of products that require some type of product date labels. Expanded regulations to other food products similar to the laws passed in County of Rockland, New York is needed to the deal with expired food products. It is also important that federal, state, and local health agencies better communicate to identify and create a system that will help regulate and enforce legislation. In California there is no formal process that will help consumer report and monitor local retailers that sell expired products to unknowing consumers. The consumers can report incidence of stores selling expired products directly to the store manager, corporate headquarters, U.S. Department of Agriculture, FDA or their local Public Health Department (depending on type of products). Consumers have no clear direction which agency or department contact. A simplified and streamlined process to report incidence of stores selling expired food is needed for consumers and for stores to better self-monitor. Community education around the meaning of different date product labels is critical to raise the awareness and clarify misconceptions of the purchasing products beyond the date of expiration. The Nutritional Labeling and Education Acts helped overhaul food labels making it more readable and brought more attention around “Nutrition Facts” and serving size. Similar efforts are needed to help inform consumers understand the importance of the quality and safety concerns of purchasing products beyond the expiration dates. South Los Angeles and all communities should all have access to quality and nutritious foods.
Currently, South Los Angeles lacks access to groceries and faces additional challenges like expired and quality food choices. This has contributed to higher rates of chronic diseases, obesity, and other health related illness for those in the community. The health problems facing communities like South Los Angeles will not all be solved by addressing expired food products in our grocery stores, but it will help lead to significant improvement in the quality of life and overall health of its residents.
|
 
|