More Australians are consuming food past its expiry date to save money, while confusion over date labels contines to contribute to millions of tonnes of food being thrown away each year.
New research from financial comparison site Finder found 14 per cent of Australians have eaten expired food to cut grocery costs, while 68 per cent of 1,010 people surveyed said they had taken steps to make basic groceries more affordable.
At the same time, Australian households throw away an estimated 7.6 million tonnes of food each year, or around 300kg per person, with much of it potentially avoidable.
Part of the reason why there is so much food waste is due to confusion over the difference between use-by and best-before dates.
A use-by date is a food safety deadline and applies to perishable foods such as meat and some dairy products, meaning these foods should not be eaten after the date.
A best-before date, however, is generally about quality rather than safety.
Foods such as pasta, rice and cereals may still be safe to eat after the date, although their taste or texture may change.
“Consumers are really confused by the difference between best-before and use-by,” RMIT associate professor Lukas Parker said. “We know it’s around 50 per cent or more of people just don’t know the difference.”
Research from food rescue organisation OzHarvest found the main reason food was thrown away in 58 per cent of households identified as high food wasters is because it has reached the date printed on the label.
The organisation has called for clearer labelling and encouraged consumers to assess some foods before throwing them away.
“Sniff a product, look at a product, taste it to see if it is okay,” OzHarvest national policy lead Katinka Day said.
However, food safety experts warn that smell and appearance cannot always tell you whether food is safe.
Food Safety Information Council CEO Lydia Buchtmann said some harmful bacteria cannot be detected by looking at or smelling food.
UNSW associate professor Julian Cox said the risks depend on the type of food.
While some canned and shelf-stable products can remain safe after their best-before date, perishable foods such as meat and cut fruit require greater care.
Proper storage can also help food last longer, while clearer information on packaging could help households avoid throwing away food unnecessarily.
“[We are] looking at ways to help avoid the confusion of the dates, but also providing consumers really helpful ways to extend the life of their food,” Assoc Prof Parker said.
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