Canadian Farmer Explains The Concept Of Expiry Date On Food Items Which Could Drastically Decrease Food Wastage

Food waste is an acute problem, and the harsh reality is that there is no law or rule to prevent it. Food waste is particularly prevalent during weddings, festivals, and family gatherings, while many people in our country and around the world are experiencing hunger and starvation.

Food waste is, in fact, the pinnacle of insensitivity. If we measure the food wasted every year, it sums up to about 1.3 billion tonnes, accounting for one-third of all food produced.

According to a study, when people's wealth rises, they become more insensitive to food wastage. Water and food are two of man's most fundamental necessities, and if a person is not aware of his plight, he will be forced to endure the repercussions.

The government, scientists, and farmers work day and night tirelessly to supply food to the entire population of our nation. Farmers sow the seeds, plough them, water them, and harvest them, and after all this, they bring it to our tables, which takes a lot of time, effort, and hard work.

Every month, about one-third of groceries are thrown away carelessly in households and businesses. This wastes food and a lot of money that goes into producing and then buying these items.

So, carefully plan your meals, bring groceries just as necessary, and prevent the wastage of food.

A farmer from Canada named Hayden Fox explains the concept behind the expiry date on food items

Meet Hayden Fox, a farmer from Canada who has been in the headlines with his explanation of why you shouldn’t throw away your food just because it’s the last or even several days beyond the expiration date. He explains this in response to a TikToker who claimed that if there’s an expiration date on a food item, he will not eat it past the date. According to Gretchen Rubin, a happiness researcher, "We often waste food due to misconceptions about expiration dates, which can lead to unnecessary waste." So, here comes Hayden, with his charming charisma, scoffing at the claim and urging people not to waste food for one very simple reason: it’s not actually bad.

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He has poured his heart and soul into producing food, and it breaks his heart when people throw away their food.

He says, “When I saw a TikTok with thousands of comments that read something along the lines of ‘I would never eat something past its expiration date,’ my heart sunk.” He then goes on to say, “People have lost touch with where their food comes from, and processors and retailers prey on this lack of information.”

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He believes that food companies are going to lie to you because all they care about is increasing their sales.

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It is their tactic so people see the expiry date, throw away that item, and immediately go and re-buy it.

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About 60% of food gets wasted every year because of these misconceptions, which are just so wrong.

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Expiration dates are simply one of many items on food packaging that are misleading, as Hayden explains

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He explains further that some items are labeled GMO, sugar-free, or gluten-free when they are naturally so, just to increase their price.

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He explains that the expiry date is actually the "peak freshness day," and the food is fine until the day of expiry and even after that, depending on the item.

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It appears that this is a global issue, as most of the food here in Canada comes from all over the world, including the United States, and this mistake about expiration dates is widespread.

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Hayden further elaborates on the issue and says:

“There are two sections of the food industry: the producers and suppliers, and the retailers and sellers of food. Producers of food are always looking to increase production, which comes at a very steep cost, meaning food waste is very costly to the producer. On the other hand, sellers need the food to have quick turnover, as storage, transportation, and shelf space are very costly.”

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Hayden also elaborates on the issue:

“Most consumers mistakenly believe that expiration dates on food indicate how safe the food is to consume, and retailers don’t do anything to help change consumers’ perceptions. This correlation between expiration date and safety is false! The expiration date does not indicate whether there is a risk of food poisoning or an increased chance of illness from consumption.”

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He was quite surprised to see the love and attention he received and to see that there are so many people who are as passionate as he is when it comes to "no wastage of food."

He further states, “I wish people could see the work that goes into every bite of food they take. It’s easy to throw something out when we don’t appreciate its true value. We generate enough food to feed the entire world, yet millions of people go hungry every day because we constantly waste the food we have.”

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Here are the responses from people after seeing the viral video of Hayden.

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The dates are printed there so people don't use their common sense and blindly give in to the dates and throw the food away.

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If someone really believes in the expiry date and doesn't consume it depending on the item, then they should give it to the poor instead of throwing it away.

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It is well planned by the companies because they produce in large quantities, and unless someone throws away or finishes their old item, they would not buy a new one.

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Humans are gifted with six senses; make use of them.

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Technically, it is somewhat right, but not always.

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This is true and exactly what the companies do.

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If you do so, then do it at your own risk; it's better to let go of rotten food than to eat it and spoil your health.

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Right! It's a waste to always abide by the expiration date.

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This makes so much sense.

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Over 1.6 million people watched the viral video, out of which 356,000 people liked it. Hayden was taken aback by the video's unexpected virality.

Share this story with your friends and family, educate them about the hard work and effort that goes into producing food, and convey it from the farm to their table. Encourage people to stop wasting food and not throw it away senselessly just because of the expiry date.