UK Recommends Removal of Sell By Dating from Packaging

The clearer date labels will help shoppers save money and stop good food being thrown away, said UK Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman. “We want to end the food labeling confusion and make it clear once and for all when food is good and safe to eat. This simpler and safer date labeling guide will help households cut down on the £12 [$16.5] billion worth of good food that ends up in the bin.”

 

The guidance was produced in consultation with UK food manufacturers, supermarkets, trade associations, consumer groups, food law enforcement bodies and Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). At least 60% of the 8.3 million tons of UK household food and drink waste is avoidable. That is 5.3 million tons of perfectly edible food per year – the equivalent of nearly $950 per household with children.  WRAP research has identified confusion over date labeling as one of the causes of this.

 

“There is a lot of confusion amongst customers about date marks," added UK Food Standards Agency Head of Hygiene and Microbiology Liz Redmond. "A number of different dates can be found on our food, so we need to make sure that everyone knows the difference between them.  We always emphasize that 'use by' dates are the most important, as these relate to food safety.”

 

The guidance for food producers outlines that "use by" labels should be used only to signify that the food could be unsafe after that date.  Most other foods should have a "best before" date only, to indicate when the food is no longer at its best, but is still safe to eat. 

 

Defra notes that the guidance is also designed so the food industry can develop more detailed advice for their specific products that minimizes confusion for consumers and food waste while keeping food safe. Examples of foods likely to require a "use by" date include soft cheese, ready-to-eat meals and smoked fish; "best before" would be used for products such as cookies, jams, pickles, crackers and tinned foods.

 

The new guide, Guidance to the Application of Date Marks to Food, is available at Defra.