USDA’s FoodKeeper app keeps food safe while eliminating waste

Ever thrown something away because you weren’t sure if it was still safe to eat, and didn’t want to risk it?

Or worse, eaten something when it was past its prime?

The USDA estimates that nationwide, 36 pounds of food per person is wasted each month. In a country dealing with food insecurity and hunger, that’s a devastating statistic.

In an effort to eliminate waste and make food safer, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service teamed up with Cornell University and the Food Marketing Institute to develop FoodKeeper, an app for your smartphone that offers guidance on the safe storage of hundreds of food items.

With storage instructions for more than 400 food and beverage items, FoodKeeper aims to teach you how to store your food and remind you to use it before it spoils, according to a USDA release on the app. Storing things correctly is critical to their longevity.

The app offers:

• Guidelines for storage in your pantry, fridge and freezer

• Safe cooking tips

• Calendar integration for entering purchase dates and reminders for when things are no longer safe to eat

The app is free and available on both iPhone and Android.