3 Big Ways to Stop Food Waste

It's a shocking fact that an estimated 30% to 40% of the U.S. food supply is wasted.

We discard more food than any other country in the world, and research suggests that the average American household wastes 32% of the food its members obtain. Even the smallest personal effort can make a difference for your wallet and the planet-you'll contribute to reducing harmful landfill emissions and help fight food insecurity. Here are a few ways to do your part:

KNOW YOUR DATES

Confusion about expiration labels is the reason more than 80% of Americans discard perfectly good food that they fear may make them sick. In general, a food is safe to consume if signs of spoilage-such as unpleasant odor, flavor or texture-aren't present. Exceptions: infant formula, which should always be consumed by the "use by" date, and sometimes meat. Save this handy anti-food-waste checklist:

• Best if Used By/Before: This date indicates when a product will have the best flavor or be of the best quality, but it doesn't mean the food will be unsafe to consume past that date.