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Re: “Read This Before June 11,” June 14 Bloomberg News editorial.
As a food and drinking-water microbiologist, I’ve always been perplexed and upset by the use of “sell by” and “best used by” dates. Canned foods are processed to ensure all pathogens are killed and there is comprehensive quality control that such foods have had the minimum temperature/time with records kept.
I suspect the federal agencies responsible for “food safety” are complacent with the food industries in maintaining this non-science, non-food safety labeling approach since it portends to ward against food-borne water illnesses. I can never foresee a can of tomato paste, which is very acidic (microorganisms cannot grow), ever “going bad” — the can would disintegrate first. This bogus date labeling system results in tons of canned food being discarded by consumers (and I’ve met many) who believe food “goes bad” after the date stamped on the bottom of the can.
At a time when there are so many poor and hungry American families who could benefit by consuming this “outdated” food at no health risk, this is a time for Congress to act.
Martin Allen, Centennial
This letter was published in the June 21 edition.
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