The costly contradiction hiding in Australian kitchens
As the cost of living bites, Australians are trying to make food last longer. But could they be needlessly wasting it as well?
Australians are struggling with food wastage due to confusing food date labels that can lead them to throw out perfectly safe food and also cope with budget constraints. New survey data from Finder reveals 14% of Australians have eaten expired food to save money, while 68% employed cost-saving measures for groceries. However, the lack of clarity on 'use-by' and 'best-before' dates may cost households more.
OzHarvest has been campaigning for reforms to Australia's date label system, pointing out that evidence has evolved since the 1990s when the current system was established. The food rescue organization believes date labeling is a significant contributor to unnecessary food waste. Research found that 58% of high-wasting households and 44% of low-waste households cited 'use-by' or 'best-before' date as the primary reason for discarding food.
Most consumers incorrectly treat both dates as mandatory and discard food that's safe to eat. Food suppliers are responsible for placing these dates, which indicate the food's safety until that date, but can still be consumed after, albeit with potential loss in quality. OzHarvest advocates for more sensory cues and clarity on packaging to help consumers make informed decisions.
Written by urgent.news from SBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
