Co-op has revealed plans to swap use-by dates with best-before labels on its range of own-brand yoghurts in order to cut food waste.
Research from recycling charity Wrap has found that half of bought yoghurts are binned unopened, mainly because they were not eaten before the recommended date.
According to guidelines by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the best before date, sometimes shown as BBE (best before end), is about quality. The food will be safe to eat after this date but may not be at its best. On the other hand, the use-by date on food is about safety. The FSA said that consumers can eat food until and on the use-by date but not after.
In January of this year, Morrisons replaced ‘use by’ labels on 90% of its own-brand milk with ‘best before’ labels. The company also encourages customers to use the sniff test to check the quality of its milk products.
‘A big impact’
Commenting on Co-op’s announcement, head of food technical Nick Cornwall said yoghurt can be safe if stored unopened in a fridge after the date printed. The acidity of the dairy product acts as a natural defence against spoiling.
He added that the move would hopefully help customers to make minor changes which can “collectively make a big impact and combat unnecessary food waste.”
“Controlling food waste is not only beneficial for managing household budgets, it also has an environmental benefit and will ultimately help reduce carbon emissions,” he said.
