To Reflect on the Dilemma of Edible Food under The System of Expiration Date

• Main Authors: Huang, Sheng Wei, 黃聖偉
• Other Authors: Lin, Chia Ying
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/28999349358722434631

碩士 === 國立政治大學 === 社會學系 === 104 === Checking for the expiry date before buying or eating anything, has to be one of the habitual behaviors in our daily life. This act seems usual, but actually is not necessary at all and is even a contradiction. Based on this reasoning, this research is about how the system of expiration date is being used nowadays and how it is being implemented. Through participant observation and in-depth interviews, collecting view points and experience from staff members in 7-ELEVEN President Chain Store, which is known for the most branches of convenience retailer in Taiwan. The research found that there is a robust relation between the implementation of expiration date and serious “food waste”. It means that the system of expiration date, which is for the purpose of ensuring “food safety”, will also come about vast amounts of “food waste”. Comparing with the global food crisis, “food waste” is not only a great irony but also conflicts with the maintenance of “food safety”. In view of this, the objective of this research lies in clarifying that food is edible or not will be a dilemmatic situation under the system of expiration date. If people don’t follow the expiration date it compromises “food safety”, otherwise “food waste” will be the consequence without choice. Whereas this dilemma, the research is going to integrate and analyze it sequentially via three dimensions, including system, rationality, and value. There are five following conclusions: (1) Recently, the frequent food safety issues raise the demand of safety, so it’s easier to abandon edible food. (2) Overusing the expiration date makes the consumer only focus on if food is “overdue or not” but not “edible or not”. (3) For businessmen, adhering to the expiration date more results in having more positive prestige and benefits. (4) Because of the expiration date, the responsibility of food for the individual shifts onto the whole society. (5) The understanding of expiration date between buyer and seller are different. The former views it as “Precautionary safety”, while the latter is to regard it as “Inevitable Waste”. Hopefully this research will provide reference for reflecting on the relation between society and food, and aid in finding a solution in the future.