The Truth About Fresh vs. Frozen Labels Isn’t What You Think
Your grocery cart is probably loaded with foods labeled “fresh,” but here’s something grocery insiders want you to know: foods which were quickly frozen while still fresh may be labeled “frozen fresh” or “fresh frozen,” and the FDA has consistently held that any food which might be thawed and sold as “fresh” food should have its frozen status clearly stated. This means that fish fillet in your cart marked as fresh might have been frozen solid just days ago.
The reality gets even more interesting when you consider storage and display practices. Investigation indicated that “canned” grapefruit juice, packed in glass, was being refrigerated and displayed under conditions which implied it was fresh, and the FDA advised packers that to avoid deception, the name should include the word “canned” when displayed under refrigeration to imply freshness. Think about that the next time you’re reaching for juice in the cold case.
Federal Law Doesn’t Require Fresh Food Dating
Federal regulations don’t require product dating, except for infant formula, and with the exception of baby food and prepackaged sandwiches, date labels are not regulated. They are set by food manufacturers to keep their products moving through the store shelves and do not correlate with food safety, but rather food quality. This shocking truth means most of those dates you see are essentially marketing tools rather than safety indicators.
What’s particularly eye-opening is how this affects your shopping decisions. Some people see a “best by” date and think the food isn’t okay to eat anymore, when that label is typically signaling a food item’s peak quality, not an “expiration,” and this confusion can lead to a lot more food being thrown out than necessary, with the USDA estimating that about 30% of our food supply is either lost or wasted at retail and consumer levels.
The Misleading World of “Natural” Claims
Even the savviest shoppers can be fooled by some of the claims found on the front of food packages, and that is intentional. Grocery insiders know that terms like “natural” have virtually no regulatory meaning. Some of the terms on the front of food packages aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which oversees nutrition and health labels and claims.
Seemingly harmless buzzwords like “natural,” “low-fat,” or “made with whole grains” are plastered on almost every product, but many people don’t realize that terms like “natural” or “low-fat” don’t always mean what they think they mean. This creates what experts call a “health halo” effect that can lead you to choose products that aren’t necessarily better for you.
Grocery Stores Aren’t Required to Remove Outdated Products
Here’s something that might surprise you: stores are not legally required to remove outdated products from their shelves. In order to ensure you getting the freshest food, it is necessary to scrutinize packaging and purchase the items with the most recent date. Although most markets are good about rotating their stock, some are not. If a store is properly stocked, the freshest items will be at the back of the shelf or underneath older items.
This practice means you need to become an active detective in the grocery aisles. Smart shoppers learn to dig behind the front-facing products to find fresher options. It’s a simple technique that can significantly extend the life of your groceries once you get them home.
The FDA Doesn’t Pre-Approve Food Labels
Under FDA’s laws and regulations, FDA does not pre-approve labels for food products, and notably, the FDA does not conduct pre-market label approval for food labels. This means companies are essentially operating on an honor system, putting products on shelves with labels they’ve created themselves and hoping they’re compliant with regulations.
If the FDA takes any enforcement actions, it is taking the action after the mislabeled product is already in commerce, and if the FDA takes any of these enforcement actions, it is taking the action after the mislabeled product is already in commerce. By the time problematic labels are caught, you may have already been purchasing and consuming these products for months or even years.
Multigrain Doesn’t Mean Whole Grain
The “multigrain” label means “more than one grain that might or might not be a whole grain,” and often the first ingredient listed is enriched wheat flour, which is garden-variety refined white flour, emphatically not whole grain. This is one of the most common misconceptions that grocery insiders see shoppers fall for repeatedly.
The clever marketing works because consumers associate multiple grains with health benefits, but the reality can be quite different. When you see “multigrain” prominently displayed on packaging, you need to flip the product over and read the actual ingredient list to understand what you’re really getting. The front of the package tells a story, but the ingredients list tells the truth.
Fresh Produce Doesn’t Need Nutrition Labels
Food labeling is required for most prepared foods, such as breads, cereals, canned and frozen foods, snacks, desserts, drinks, etc., but nutrition labeling for raw produce (fruits and vegetables) and fish is voluntary. This creates an interesting paradox where the foods that are naturally healthiest for you have the least regulatory oversight on labeling.
What this means for your shopping is that you’re often flying blind when it comes to the nutritional content of fresh fruits and vegetables. While a box of crackers will have detailed nutritional information, that bag of apples or bunch of spinach won’t. This system assumes consumers know the nutritional value of fresh produce, which isn’t always the case.
Date Labels Create Massive Food Waste
This confusion about date labels leads to a lot more food being thrown out than necessary, with the USDA estimating that about 30% of our food supply is either lost or wasted at retail and consumer levels, and these foods end up adding to our landfills and decomposing to release methane and other greenhouse gases, which add to climate change. Your misunderstanding of a simple label is literally contributing to environmental damage.
In a recent report by Recycle Track Systems, the United States tosses around 40 million tons of food annually; 43% of the waste is contributed by the average American household while 40% comes from grocery stores and foodservice. Not only does that cause a significant ecological impact, but also an economical one as retailers and customers are literally throwing away money.
California Is Leading Label Reform
Many food companies have voluntarily adopted the use of the words “best if used by” to indicate when food is at its peak freshness and “use by” as a food safety date, but this usage isn’t universal at all. California recently passed a law that will require food products to use these two labels starting in July 2026, so that’s brought more attention to the issue. This means if you shop in California, you’re getting clearer labeling than consumers in most other states.
The California approach represents what could become the future of food labeling nationwide. The FDA said they’re just gathering information at this point and it’s part of a national strategy to reduce food waste. What happens in California often influences national policy, so this could be a preview of coming changes.
The New “Healthy” Label Definition Changes Everything
Both processed and packaged foods as well as fresh, whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables will be able to qualify for the “healthy” claim. Foods that qualify for the healthy claim that are not packaged can have the claim communicated to consumers through signage and other materials in the store. Therefore, through use of the “healthy” claim, consumers will have additional information on foods throughout the grocery store that can help make more informed decisions.
This represents a major shift in how foods can be marketed to you. Some comments assert that this change would allow food manufacturers to incorrectly label what they consider unhealthy foods as “healthy,” thus allowing manufacturers to mislead and deceive consumers. The debate shows just how contentious and complex food labeling has become.
Front-of-Package Labels Are Coming Soon
The FDA is currently researching front-of-package labeling options that may eventually indicate whether a product is high or low for saturated fat, sodium, added sugars, fiber content, and calcium, and will most likely be similar to the U.K. traffic light symbol. These visual cues will make it much easier for you to make quick decisions while shopping.
These potential regulations would aim to curb the consumption of ultra-processed foods, introduce front-of-package nutrition labeling, and reduce misleading food marketing tactics. Fast food giants will have to comply with front-of-package labeling laws, meaning caloric, sugar, and fat content will be more prominently displayed, which could impact sales as consumers become more aware of nutritional dangers in fast food items. This change could revolutionize how you navigate grocery stores and make food choices, putting the most important nutritional information right where you can see it first.
Did you realize how much of what you thought you knew about fresh food labels was actually carefully crafted marketing?
