Have you ever bought some milk or cottage cheese and when you looked closely at it later found out that it is past its “use by” date? How mad were you? Did you bother to return it?

This doesn’t have to happen. The technology now exists to keep stores from selling expired products. All that has to be done is to add the expiration date information into the UPC bar code. Then if the store has an expired product on the shelf and you inadvertently pick it up.  When it is scanned at the register you will be notified.

This change which was not possible even a decade ago.  But printing technology and bar coding have advanced to the point that it now can be done.  Why bother?  First because it would be a significant way to improve public health at a low cost.  Second it would take one of the little aggravations out of our lives.  Do we need a law?  I don’t think so.  A forward thinking grocery chain could implement a Date Coded UPC  system and profit from the increased business.  Another excellent idea!