Would you eat food that has expired?

There’s a new grocery store/restaurant/teaching kitchen opening next year near Boston will offer only food that is already past its sell-by date.

Is this a bold attempt to make healthy food more affordable and reduce food waste? Or merely another way to make a buck off of those who have few options for shopping elsewhere?

Doug Rauch, the former president of Trader Joe’s, is behind “The Daily Table.” He wants to take good quality food that grocers have to throw away and cook and sell it as low-cost prepared food.

Rauch says Americans trash up to 40-percent of their food every year because they don’t understand expiration dates. Expiration date refers to the last date a food should be eaten or served according to the manufacturer or producer.

The hybrid store will sell prepared food, like soups and casseroles, as well as packaged chopped vegetables for prices that compete with fast food, not brand-driven food. There will also be a kitchen area where people can learn how to cook with the healthy ingredients they purchase.

So… if you knew the food was safe to eat, but past the “best-by-date,” would you buy it?

I would if it meant giving my children fruits and vegetables and other healthy food I couldn’t otherwise afford.

Hunger is a very real issue in this country. Kudos to Mr. Rauch for trying to tackle this very large social challenge.