Let’s take a closer look at those little date labels we find on food packaging – the best before and used by dates. These small markers have played a part in causing a lot of perfectly good food to end up in the bin. However, some UK supermarkets have recently made a change by ditching best before dates. The big question is: will this move actually help us waste less food? Let’s break it down.
What’s the Deal with Best Before and Used By Dates?
Okay, so you’ve seen these labels on your groceries. The “best before” date is like a suggestion from the food: “Hey, I’ll taste and look my best if you eat me before this date, but I won’t hurt you if you eat me after.” The “used by” date is more serious; it’s the food saying, “Eat me by this date, or you might end up with a tummy ache.”
Why Do These Dates Lead to Food Waste?
The trouble comes when we mix up these dates. It is confusing having two different dates on a product and many of us have tossed stuff just because the “best before” date passed, even if the food looked and smelled fine. That’s perfectly good food going to waste because we’re afraid to give it a taste.
Supermarkets Are Changing Things Up:
Back in November 2022, WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) urged supermarkets to reconsider the need for unnecessary food labels, particularly for fresh produce where these labels weren’t legally required. This push led to a positive shift. M&S took the lead by removing best before dates from over 300 types of fruits, and soon after, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Coop joined the movement. These stores are now encouraging us to trust our instincts—our senses of sight, smell, and taste—to determine if food is still good to eat. They’re basically saying, “You’ve got this, trust your gut.”
But Will This Actually Make a Difference?
Does this mean we’ll suddenly become wizards at preventing food waste? Not exactly. While this change is definitely a step in the right direction, we need to reexamine how we approach our groceries. Sure, cutting out best before dates can help curb waste, but it’s not a magical fix for everything.
Interestingly, a survey conducted in 2022 by Too Good To Go discovered that the average Brit wastes about £303 worth of food each year because of following best before labels. Removing these labels could put that money back in families’ pockets. However, the issue of food waste is intricate, with diverse reasons behind people’s wasting habits. This calls for solutions that work together to address different behavior patterns. That’s where Kitche comes in—a platform offering various tools, including handy reminders to use up food. Its potential impact lies in its ability to support and guide different behaviors toward reducing food waste.
Removing best before dates from some supermarket items is cool. It’s a nudge in the right direction. But we’ve got to do our part too. By using our common sense and paying attention to how we shop, store, and cook, we can seriously cut down on food waste. It’s a win for our wallets and the planet. So, let’s keep our food out of the trash and onto our plates where it belongs!
