In the United States, an astonishing 40 percent of our food is wasted, and most of the waste goes to the landfill. Here in Santa Barbara County we're doing much better at only 20 percent, but we can still do more.
Expiration dates complicate our waste of food. Expiration dates on food products have a variety of meanings, but usually do not indicate that the product is unsafe. There is no standard definition for the expiration date either. So when you open the fridge and observe a product has passed its “use by” date but still appears sound and wholesome, it may not be necessary to throw it out. We should all use our eyes, nose, and sense of taste to determine if food is unsuitable before tossing it.
Giving usable food items to those in our community who are less fortunate is a humanitarian way to cut back on food waste. There are numerous places to donate in our community, including Catholic Charities, the Foodbank, Salvation Army, and Unity Shoppe, just to name a few. You can find a full listing of options for Santa Barbara County here .