INSIDE THE VILLAGE: Why it's time for food producers to scrap 'best before' dates

Welcome back to Inside the Village, a one-of-a-kind podcast where all news is local — and no topic is off-limits.

On this week’s episode: Are 'best before' dates past their prime?

A new report on grocery affordability from a House of Commons committee argues that Canada should scrap best before dates because a lot of people don't understand what they actually mean. 

Many consumers wrongly believe that food is not safe to eat after a best before date, which isn't actually true. Unlike an expiry date, a best before date simply indicates when a product is at its peak freshness.

Experts say best before dates could be contributing to excess food waste, and in turn, food insecurity — all while driving up the price of groceries.

Mike Von Massow, a food economist at the University of Guelph, joins us on the podcast to offer some food for thought. Spoiler alert: the professor has no qualms about eating yogurt past its best before date.

Dig in.

Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province.

Every episode is available HERE. If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

Have something to say? You can reach us at itv@villagemedia.ca.