‘Best Before’ Food Labels Cause Confusion, Waste

Published on October 6, 2022

Imagine you find a treasure map with an ‘X’ marking the spot. But when you dig, you realize the real treasure was actually hidden somewhere else! That’s kind of what happens with ‘best before’ food labels. These labels, meant to indicate peak freshness, are causing confusion instead. While ‘use by’ labels clearly tell us when perishable foods can become unsafe to eat, ‘best before’ labels are more like a friendly suggestion. Unfortunately, many consumers misinterpret them as expiration dates, leading to unnecessary food waste. It’s like throwing away a perfectly good piece of fruit just because it doesn’t look brand new. To tackle this issue, policymakers and food manufacturers are reconsidering how they communicate shelf life information. They’re exploring clearer labeling systems that eliminate the guesswork and empower consumers to make informed choices about the food they consume. If you want to learn more about this topic and discover solutions that minimize food waste, be sure to check out the underlying research!

As awareness grows around the world about the problem of food waste, one culprit in particular is drawing scrutiny: “best before” labels. Manufacturers have used the labels for decades to estimate peak freshness. Unlike “use by” labels, which are found on perishable foods…

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