@article{Labuza:14318,
      recid = {14318},
      author = {Labuza, Theodore P. and Szybist, Lynn M.},
      title = {CURRENT PRACTICES AND REGULATIONS REGARDING OPEN DATING OF  FOOD PRODUCTS},
      address = {1999},
      number = {1710-2016-140018},
      series = {Working Paper 99-01},
      pages = {137},
      year = {1999},
      abstract = {A federally regulated open dating system on food products,  instead of the current somewhat random and non-uniform  state mandated system, would most likely benefit today's  consumers, retailers, and government agencies.  Consumers  have indicated a strong desire for open dates; it would  enhance their ability to make educated choices about the  freshness of the foods they consume.  A mandatory/uniform  system would also assist retail grocers with stock  rotation, so that customers can be provided with the best  products available.  Finally, federal open dating  regulations across state borders would lessen burdens on  interstate commerce.  The potential benefits of this dating  system outweigh the opposing points-of-view.  The purpose  of this research is to illustrate and discuss the current  practices and regulations regarding open dating of  food.
Included in this study are the current federal and  state regulations.  Fifty-nine percent of the states  (including the District of Columbia) currently mandate some  sort of open dating on food products.  The regulations vary  on a state-by-state basis from mandatory dating of all  perishable foods to open dating on a completely voluntary  basis.
 While most consumers want to see open dates,  educating them about what the dates mean is necessary but  currently not being done.  A major disadvantage of an open  dating system is that it may be deceiving if the food is  not properly handled, i.e. the date is based on some  average storage condition.  There are many modes of food  deterioration, and most are dependent on a time-  temperature interdependence. This research acknowledges  that open dating of food is useful as a guide to the end of  shelf-life, but its regulated implementation used in  conjunction with time- temperature integrators is a more  dependable indicator of freshness and safety for the  consumer.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/14318},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.14318},
}