A study released by End Food Waste Australia and RMIT University has revealed unclear date labels and storage advice are causing food waste. The team conducted 125 consumer interviews to determine how to combat the issue.
Food waste is a multi billion dollar problem in Australia, with over 7.6 million tonnes of food wasted annually, about one-third of all food in Australia. Food systems are estimated to be responsible for around a third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, half of which is caused by food loss and waste. Improving the Australian food system’s productivity, resilience and sustainability is a critical issue, which can begin in households.
The Data Labelling and Storage Advice insights report showed a complex range of consumer perceptions of labels, with different food categories elicited different behaviours. Although many of the 125 respondents understood that use-by dates show the last day a product is safe to eat, and best-before dates show peak quality, they often discarded food when it reached either date.
There were two groups of participants: those who closely followed date labels and those who were only minimally aware of the existence of those labels. Participants who were minimally aware of date labels might tend to keep food longer, possibly risking food safety but reducing immediate food waste.
Date labels on lower risk categories, including Fruits & Vegetables, Bakery, or Packaged & Processed Food, were often ignored, and labels on higher-risk categories, such as Dairy & Eggs or Meat & Seafood, were followed more closely.
The report found that storage advice, such as “Store in a cool, dry place”, was often interpreted as vague and unclear, and consumers wanted more information about how to extend the product’s shelf life through freezing.
Specific temperature guidelines and practical tips on properly storing food and sealing packaging were seen as more helpful – showing a need for clearer date labels and storage advice to assist consumers in reducing food waste. The study also found date labels were often removed after the packaging was opened, leaving many consumers unsure about the product’s freshness.
RMIT University associate professor and lead author, Lukas Parker, said date labels were widely misused by Aussies because they were confusing.
“Consumers want clear, consistent and easy-to-read information,” said Parker.
“Date labels should be in a large font with contrasting colours so that they are easy to find and interpret. Particularly in a cost-of-living crisis, people need information on how to properly store and prolong the shelf life of food.”
There were some interesting insights recorded, including how older and retired Australians were less likely to obsess over date labels, while young families were more likely to throw away food once past its best-before or use-by date.
Date labels were also less likely to be perceived as reliable or trustworthy for warmer and more humid climates, like in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Parker said people were overall relying too heavily on printed best-before dates, rather than using their senses to self-test.
“We need people to feel, touch and smell food, not just rely on its best-before date,” he said.
“Fresh produce often doesn't have date labels and we manage just fine, yet products like salt are often needlessly sold with best-before dates.”
He also said buying to eat, rather than to store was a simple way for consumers to reduce food waste and save money.
“Smaller, more frequent shops are a simple way to reduce your food waste,” he said.
“Having less food in our fridges and pantries means we’re more likely to use products quickly and throw less away. We all need to recognise that we waste food. Focus on what you do and what you can do next to reduce it.”
Parker and the team are working through the results of this latest study with government and industry representatives.
