Mitigating Food Waste – Are “Best Before” Dates Past Their Due Dates?

Food waste is becoming an increasingly popular topic, and the conversation surrounding the need for “best before” dates is also gaining interest globally. With a few exceptions, there is no requirement for “best before” dates on many food products in many countries. In this article, the links between “best before” dates and food waste, as well as climate implications and consumer implications, will be explored. The article also explores the history of food safety and “best before” dates and the current use of these food labeling practices in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Based on the limited requirements for “best before” date labeling across several jurisdictions and the implications that accompany high levels of food waste, there is an opportunity to address current policy for food labeling that can address these issues. Further research should look at how policy could be used to create greater awareness of what “best before” or “use by” dates indicate and should consider policy changes to remove labels from certain foods that do not currently require “best before” dates, such as fresh, uncut produce.