We are excited to release the first report from the National Date Labelling and Storage Advice Project. Our study reveals that Australians are wasting edible food because of unclear date labels and storage advice.
Australians are baffled by #BestBefore labels, and often (wrongly) use them interchangeably with #UseBy. Note: “Use By” is the last day a product is safe to eat, but “Best Before” is about food quality, and the product should be ok to eat after the date as long as it’s not damaged, deteriorated or perished.
We undertook 125 in-depth interviews across Australia about the issue. We found that:
🥪 People relied on date labels to dispose of food and often did not feel confident using their senses to test food first.
🥝 Consumers want clear, consistent and easy-to-read information.
🥩 They want practical tips and advice on storing food and sealing packaging to prolong food’s life and reduce waste.
🥦 They find existing advice like “store in a cool, dry place” vague and unhelpful, particularly given Australia’s wide climate variations.
🥚 They want explicit freezing and thawing advice for foods that can be frozen.
We have translated these, plus other insights, to develop concept date label and storage advice designs, which we are now testing. Stay tuned!
The report is available for free here: https://endfoodwaste.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/EFWA_124_DateLabel_ConsumerInterviewInsightsReport.pdf
#sustainability #endfoodwaste #australia