Food waste is also the result of misunderstanding expiration dates: “use by” or “best before”. There is a true subject about understanding dates for consumers. Some products have a “use by” date, others a minimum shelf life… Complex and misleading. Perfectly consumable products are thus thrown away!
These labels are yet the worldwide norms used by retailers to advise their consumers regarding the ideal time to consume their goods.
Let’s clear it up in this article.
The labels: which are they?
The “best before” and “use by” date labels are the most widely used types of date labeling on food in Europe.
Commonly, the “best before” date is about the quality of the food, while the “use by” date is about safety. In the European Union, these labels are regulated to ensure that retailers use the appropriate one for their products.
Best Before
- Meaning: refers to food quality, foods can often be eaten after that date. Indicates the date up to which the product will maintain its optimal quality (flavor, texture, etc.)
- Safety: Safe to eat after this date as long as it’s stored properly, even if the quality may diminish.
- Examples: Packaged snacks, canned goods, dry pasta
Use By
- Meaning: refers to food safety, foods should not be eaten after that date.
- Safety: Do not consume after this date, as it may pose health risks.
- Examples: Fresh meat, dairy, ready-to-eat salads
Other labels exist, like:
Guaranteed Fresh
- Meaning: Usually found on baked goods; guarantees peak freshness by the specified date.
- Safety: Safe to consume after this date but may not be as fresh.
- Examples: Bread, pastries.
The consequences of misunderstood labels
82% of French people say that they search the shelf for the longest dates on an item and leave the short dates, accelerating waste. Different norms used to tell consumers when they should eat their products create confusion for some people, finally contributing to household food waste.
Indeed, 27% of 18/24-year-olds sometimes throw away products before their use-by date, according to a conjoint study from Smartway and Opinion Way about food waste in 2023.
The lack of awareness causes people to be unaware of environmental, social and economic impacts of food waste.
They fear to be sick if they eat something spoiled or about to expire and they finally perpetuate a behavior where they regularly waste food.
When people misunderstand expiration labels, it can lead to huge loss: 80% of Americans discard perfectly good and consumable food simply because they don’t really know the labels. What a loss!
New norms are emerging
A new movement is calling for better differentiation of expiration dates on goods.
For example, it suggests adding:
“but still good after” after the mention “best before”.
All this is accompanied by a pictogram inviting consumers to use their senses: “Taste, smell, observe”.
The idea? Let consumers decide for themselves whether or not to eat the product. What if we try the way our grandparents used to do things before best-before dates appear on packaging? At a time of climatic urgency that calls for change, our eating habits must respond to a pedagogy of sustainability and return to a common-sense human ecology!
In a context of climate emergency that calls for change, our eating habits must respond to a pedagogy of sustainability and for common-sense!
Let’s discuss this subject together!
And if you are interested in the laws regarding food waste, read our guide about the innovative legislation in France and how the European Union is still not at the expected level.