Confused about the difference between "best before" and "sell by" labels on food? The Grocery Manufacturers Association and Food Marketing Institute are teaming up to make labels easier to understand.

Both groups recently announced they are leading an industry-wide effort to standardize date labels on food. There are currently than 10 different date labels on packages, such as "Sell By," "Use By," "Expires On," "Best Before," "Better if Used By" or "Best By."

The associations are suggesting whittling that number down to just two: "BEST if Used By" and "USE by."

"The shopper remains the most critical audience in our industry, and as the associations representing major food brands and retailers, we want to encourage a consistent vocabulary so that our customers clearly understand they are purchasing products that are of the highest quality and safety possible," FMI CEO Leslie Sarasin said.

GMA and FMI are suggesting food retailers and manufacturers voluntarily adopted the new guidelines by summer 2018. They say the effort could reduce food waste by preventing people from unnecessarily throwing away food that is still safe eat.

"Our product code dating initiative is the latest example of how retailers and manufacturers are stepping up to help consumers and to reduce food waste," GMA CEO Pamela Bailey said. http://bit.ly/2kIgKyT

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