Would you have thought? It reduces food waste if there is no expiration date on the packaging!

By: STA Date: 2022. 08. 02. 16:11

The shelf life refers to the quality of the food and suggests when the taste and texture of the product will be optimal. But there is no need to rely on a label if we can use our own senses to decide whether a product is still edible.

If less food ends up in the bin, we can act against not only food waste, but also climate change. (Photo: Pixabay)

Waitrose has become the latest UK supermarket to get rid of “best before” dates in a bid to tackle food waste. From September, these markings will disappear from nearly 500 fresh products, including potatoes and apples. Waitrose is not the only UK retailer to phase out this information. Last month, M&S announced it was removing best-before dates from 300 fruit and vegetable products.

How does removing the best before date help reduce food waste?

The expiration date indicates that perishable food is no longer safe to cook and eat, and ignoring it can lead to food poisoning. The shelf life, on the other hand, refers to the quality of the food and suggests when the taste and texture of the product will be optimal. It is estimated that removing the best before date for fresh fruit and vegetables would save the equivalent of 7 million shopping baskets of food.

It is estimated that 10% of the 88 million tonnes of food waste generated annually in the EU is related to best-before dates, so the European Commission will review its rules.

Euronews