Americans throw out about one-third of their food each year. What is one of the primary causes of this waste?

One of the primary causes of food waste in America is over-purchasing. Many people buy more food than they actually need, often driven by grocery store promotions or simply the desire to stock up. This excess food can go bad before it gets eaten, leading to a staggering amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Another contributing factor is confusion over expiration dates. Many consumers misunderstand labels like "sell by," "use by," or "best by," resulting in perfectly good food being discarded. It’s essential to know that many of these dates don't mean food is unsafe to eat but can still be good for consumption, leading to unnecessary waste in households.