"Best before" dates to be scrapped on food products?

‘Best before’ dates on food could be scrapped in a move to reduce Britain’s £6 billion waste mountain.

Ministers believe the current system encourages people to throw away food that is still safe to eat. And they want shops to use a simple ‘use by’ date instead.

Confusion over the labels is thought to be one reason why 5.3 million tons of edible food and drink are thrown out every year.

‘Sell by’ and ‘display until’ stickers are also expected to be withdrawn.

The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) said last night that no change in the law was imminent. But Ministers are looking at ways of making the system more straightforward, possibly by issuing new guidelines to shops. More...

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