Don't feel bad... 90% of Americans are wrong with you.
I don’t believe I am ever wrong, so no, I do not accept your right to tell me “knew facts” about life. An expiration date is just that. If humans had an expiration date, as soon as it ran out, I would expect them to die in front of my eyes. Am I being dramatic? No, I am never dramatic. That would be absurd. As absurd as listening to commercials on the radio, especially given the number of channels and online music options.
“Expiration Dates” are just a “guess”?! Then why put them on things that I buy? Are you trying to picoaggress me?! Seriously, are you? I’m being serious. I’ll wait. ... ... ... ... Okay, I’m bored, I’m not waiting any longer. This is just downright offensive. Do you not understand that I grew up with one basic foundation of knowledge and, regardless of if it is, as the kids would call it “accurate”, I am offended that you would like me to change.
When you say, “There was zero federal regulation and standardization of dates placed on food.” Do you mean really zero, or are you using that hyperbole bullcrap commonly out there? I hate when most people “generalize” about something. Just be straight about it.
“According to 99% Invisible [that’s some place or magazine or something, I’m too busy to check], a group of testers will subjectively sample food of varying ages and then take a survey. Those results lead to the freshness (or “expiration,” or “best by”) date. So some random tester saying “these waffles taste kind of weird” determines that seemingly concrete but actually very non-scientific expiration date on your food and drink. And smaller companies, without the budget/time for a taste testing session, will sometimes just estimate (read: make up) their dates. So, if your artisanal, small batch, locally sourced chipotle-infused pickles still taste good a few weeks after they “expire,” it’s no coincidence.”
WHAT?! That IS some bullcrap! I will eat food whenever I want it. I will throw out food that looks only a little bit bruised, or even if I think it might bruise in the near future. Now you tell me I can eat that banana that looks completely fine but I’m pretty sure past an expiration date that I read about in my friend’s AOL Chatroom?? And who eats artist anal pickles? The rest of us aren’t from Brooklyn, give me a break!
And then there is this study: The Dating Game
SPOILER: IT WON’T HELP ANYONE SWIPE RIGHT ON ME OR SEND ME ADDITIONAL WINKS! It’s apparently about food expiration dates. Way to Rick Roll me expiration date article!
And why doesn’t anyone ever define what “Best If Sold By” even MEANS?! Like, you want to get rid of your stock so you need to sell it by then? If so, why not give me a discount leading up to that date? Swipe right on me?Â
What?
And, “At the consumer level, according to one calculation, food waste costs the average American family of four $1365-2275 per year.” This is about 160 billion pounds of waste, by the way.” That’s about how much my taxes would rise if Bernie Sanders became president (and the bathroom volume of the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man, if he existed, by the way). I think I just solved how Bernie can pay for things! Ahhhh, my ADD is making me lose focus! Stupid pharmaceutical industry!
And look at this thing! Literally, I can keep my entire fridge inhabitants without throwing them out?! Stop. Just stop. I will throw out what I want when I want to. I usually throw things out at least a week before it goes bad. And by bad, I am referring to the expiration date. Don’t tell me I’m wrong or you’ll get a smack. Because I’m always right. Always. Right.
