The biggest factor of food and medicine expiration is not time, but rather oxidation caused by high temperature and moisture.

Much of this waste is due to the myriad of different and unclear types of expiration dates on food. Expiration dates on food were originally intended to protect consumers by assuring them that their food was fresh. Instead of freshness most consumers take it to mean a guarantee of safety. This is often not the case, and even if it was, it is ineffective due to the fact that temperature and humidity are more important contributors to food spoilage than time since packaging.

*”The Dating Game” NRDC, and Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic

Drugs such as antibiotics, insulin and nitroglycerin spoil quickly and can threaten human health. On the other hand, many drugs keep long past their expiration date, especially if kept sealed. Consumers and pharmacies lose money when they throw out deceptively unexpired drugs. A 2008 report by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports that hospital CEO’s say that “Drugs offer the single greatest opportunity for cost savings,” but not all pharmacies track which drugs typically expire nor their lost value.
Additionally, improperly disposed drugs can end up in the water supply where they can affect aquatic and terrestrial animals, including humans. People may experience the side effects of drugs contaminating water or they may negatively interact with sick people’s current drug regimen.