Student Number: 301366795

Answer: Removing best before dates might help reduce food waste by encouraging people to rely on their senses to assess food quality. However, it's crucial to strike a balance with clear labeling to maintain food safety and avoid health risks. An improved solution could be enhancing date labeling systems to more accurately indicate food safety and quality. For example, using "use by" dates for perishable items and "best before" dates for non-perishables could be more effective.

Student Number: 301201029

Answer: In my opinion removing or adding best before dates can both contribute to reducing food waste.

Removing best before dates can help reduce food waste because people often mistakenly throw away food that is still safe to eat. Without these dates, consumers might use their senses, like smell and taste, to judge food freshness instead of relying on a date. This can save money, reduce waste, and lessen the environmental impact of food production and disposal. However, Without best before dates, other consumers might get confused about food freshness, leading to either overly cautious buying or wasting food that seems questionable. Some might mistakenly think food is always safe without these dates, risking the consumption of spoiled products. Additionally, the absence of these dates could result in inconsistent product quality, affecting customer satisfaction.

Student number: 301336269

I think removing best before dates from the packaging could help in reducing the food waste, only if the stores management would ensure the removal of spoiled or riskier products from the shelves after the expiry dates.

Usually the customers are avoiding to purchase the products without considering whether it is best before that date or ok to use after that date, which causes food waste. Therefore, removing best before date and altering the prices a month before that date could reduce the wastage.

Ajay Kumar Javvadi

301375317

Removing best-before dates to cut down on food waste has both benefits and problems. On one hand, getting rid of these dates might help people use their senses to decide if food is still good, which could reduce waste. On the other hand, best-before dates are important for food safety and quality, and without them, people might get confused and face health risks. Also, not having these dates could make people trust food labels less. A better solution might be to educate people about food safety and use more flexible labels to keep food safe while reducing waste.

4o mini

Eliminating best-before dates can help reduce food waste since, frequently, consumers mistake these dates for expiration dates and refuse to purchase the product, which results in food waste. Instead, it's crucial to provide an expiration date to make it obvious that the product has a shelf life and isn't safe to consume indefinitely.

Removing best before dates could potentially reduce food wastage.

Best before dates are frequently interpreted incorrectly as measures of food quality rather than safety. Eliminating them might lessen the probability to throw away food too soon. However, there should be a clear labeling making it easier for consumers to read through and understand the difference between best before and expiry dates.

In my opinion, removing "best before" dates from food might significantly lower food waste. People frequently become confused by these dates and end up throwing away perfectly good food after the date. Food is usually safe to eat if stored properly because best before dates relate to quality rather than safety. The removal or clarification of these labels could encourage consumers to rely more on their senses, taste, smell, and appearance instead of a random date, reducing waste and improving the environment.

However, best before dates are not changed then food waste will continue to rise if best. Many consumers trash food after the expiration date because they view these dates as expiration warnings. The ecology and household budgets are badly impacted by the millions of tons of food that are wasted annually as a result of this misconception. The amount of trash will increase as retailers continue to remove products from shelves too soon. We are supporting an incorrect system that fills landfills rather than plates by leaving these labels in place. This destructive loop will only continue if nothing is done.

So according to me best before dates should be removed to reduce food waste.

Student Number: 301291836

Removing best-before dates could potentially reduce food waste, but it comes with both benefits and challenges. Many people discard food as soon as it reaches the best-before date, even if it’s still safe to consume. Best-before dates indicate quality rather than safety, so food may still be edible and nutritious beyond that date. By removing these dates, consumers might rely more on their senses like smell, taste, and appearance to judge whether food is still good, which could reduce unnecessary waste.

However, there are risks in removing best-before dates altogether. Some people might be less confident in assessing food safety and could consume products that are no longer safe, leading to potential health risks. Best-before dates also provide guidance for retailers and help manage stock rotation, ensuring fresher products are available.

A potential compromise could be better education on the difference between best-before and use-by dates, as well as clearer labeling that encourages consumers to make informed decisions.

This could help balance the goal of reducing food waste while ensuring food safety standards are upheld.

student no- 301407574

According to me,Removing best-before dates could potentially reduce food waste by reducing consumer confusion about food safety, encouraging reliance on sensory evaluation rather than arbitrary dates. However, it poses risks, such as increased potential for consuming spoiled food and complications with regulatory compliance. Instead of removing dates entirely, improving labeling practices to clearly differentiate between safety-related and quality-related dates, along with educating consumers on how to assess food freshness, could offer a balanced approach to reducing waste while maintaining safety standards.

- Camille Anne Bumanglag 301373487

Luis Chavez (300126397)

Student Number: 301379952

Answer: Removing the best before date will help in significantly reduce the food waste as the best before date creates confusion and sets a deadline on food product which might be good for consumption. But people percieve it as expiry date and throw away perfectly fine food which increases food waste. Best before date removal will also help save money on groceries as it will help in cost saving during the current inflation in the country. The quality of food and freshness will then be tested via other ways like sensory parameters like taste, smell and appearance which will help in reducing food wastage. Hence it would be beneficial to remove best before date from food products.

a) Food safety professionals should educate the public that best before dates, are indicator of product quality and foods are still safe for consumption even past declared dates.

b) Food manufacturers should plan their production volume based on the previous sales forecast to minimize waste.

c) Food retailers may consider selling products that are beyond best before dates on discounts, distributing those to food banks rather than discarding to waste, and/or selling to animal feeds producers.

d) Consumers to consider purchasing products that are past best before dates and should only purchase according to their household need to prevent further waste.

- Karen Joy Penero (301277611)

Student Number: 301366085

In my opinion, removing best before dates could be a significant step towards reducing food waste. Instead of relying on this fixed dates, I think we should focus on educating ourselves about how to assess food quality based on factors like storage conditions and packaging. By shifting the emphasis to more practical, everyday knowledge, we could make better decisions and cut down waste. For me, it's a more sensible approach than relying to printed dates that often don't reflect the actual state of the food.

301349131

In my opinion, manufacturers should,'t remove the best before dates as many consumers would feel that thet risk food poisoning if food is consumed after the date. First step would be to teach all the consumers the difference between best before dates and expiry date. Second I still feel it is safe to put both best before and expiration dates as it is better to be safe than sorry.

I also feel that it is the consumers responsibility in only buying what they need and not over buying things and at the end they would have to throw it out.

Student Number: 301246619

From my personal standpoint, even though BBD provides a yardstick for freshness, most foods remain within the realm of safe eating and good quality over and above these dates. This will help in reducing the perfectly good food that is land-filled by encouraging the consumers to be confident in their senses: sight, smell, taste, which give them an estimate of a product's quality. However, this method would need to incorporate consumer education and awareness, and be duly sensitive to those products that are perishable and result in potential health risks if consumed beyond their prime.

301352683

answer :

I believe best before dates should not be removed just to avoid food waste. While removing best before dates may help reduce food waste by allowing people to decide the safety of food using their senses, individuals with weakened immune systems may get sick if they unknowingly consume unsafe food. Some foods can be poisonous and life-threatening without showing changes in color or taste. Additionally, what is the benefit of eating food when its nutritional value is reduced or lost? Moreover, people may lose trust or confidence in purchasing processed foods that lack best before dates unless there is an alternative. This could impact the sustainability of the food industry.

On the other hand, educating people about expiry dates and best before dates could give them more confidence to eat foods that has been stored properly and safe to eat. This may help to reduce food waste.

Removing the best before dates on food labels could, in my opinion, help reduce food waste. Best before dates provide information on how long a product will remain fresh, tasty, and nutritious if it is not opened, according to CFIA. This does not imply that if a product is past the specified date, it needs to be discarded. In order to prevent misinterpretation and confusion, I also think that customers should be educated about these labels initially.

Student No 301328475

Answer In my personal opinion this is a question that in itself creates confusion. The question depends on the type of consumer to which it is posed. A person with higher purchasing power tends to avoid items that are usually in clearance and take the fresher batches of any food product with a far best-before date, which tends to be safe in general. However, a person with a lower purchasing power will tend to get the most out of this money at the cheapest price. and hence buys products that have a very close best before date. At the end of the day people buy stuff they want and justify them. Foods with best-before dates don't pose to be high-risk foods. So, I would say it won't make much difference.

Removing "best before dates" to cut down on food waste has both pros and cons. On the positive side, getting rid of these dates might help people trust their own senses, like smell and sight, to decide if food is still good to eat, instead of throwing it away because of the date. It could also clear up confusion between "best before" and "use by" dates, as food is often still good after the best before date. However, some worry that without these dates, people might not always know when food has gone bad, which could lead to health risks. Also, companies use "best before" dates to manage stock and make sure food is sold when it is at its best, so removing them could make inventory control harder.

Student Number: 301379918

I feel that best before dates should be reconsidered and defined in order to decrease food wastage. Best before dates are sometimes misunderstood as expiration dates, causing people to discard perfectly edible goods. Instead of removing them, we might focus on improving consumer education about what "best before" actually implies, which is quality rather than safety.

Furthermore, implementing new labelling systems, such as "use by" for safety and "best if used by" for quality, could assist consumers in making more educated selections. Supermarkets and food manufacturers might potentially experiment with dynamic pricing systems, in which items approaching their best-before dates are sold at a discount, minimising waste while ensuring food is used.

Removing best before dates totally may jeopardize consumer confidence in food quality, but enhanced clarity and education on these labels can strike a compromise between minimising waste and retaining trust.

Student number- 301334575

Answer- Yes. Best before dates often lead to excessive food waste, as people wrongly assume food is unsafe once the date passes, even if it remains consumable. Eliminating these labels could encourage individuals to use their natural senses to smell (nose), taste (tongue), and sight to assess food quality, thereby reducing avoidable waste.

I think they should replace the BB dates with expiry dates, that way we’ll reduce food wastage and improve the economy a little tiny bit.

Although removing the best before date can prevent waste.In most cases, it's advisable not to remove the "best before" date. Maintaining this information is essential for legal, safety, and ethical reasons, and it helps to build and maintain consumer trust. If there's a concern about products nearing their "best before" date, alternative strategies such as discounts, donations, or clear communication with consumers should be considered.

Instead of removing the dates, alternatives like improved consumer education, clearer labeling, or dynamic shelf-life labels could better balance reducing food waste with maintaining food safety. In concerns about food safety and consumers trust if "best before" dates are removed. These dates provide important guidance on the optimal quality of food products, and without them, consumers might feel uncertain about freshness and quality.

For me, best before dates should not be removed to help reduce food waste.

Best before dates show products' peak freshness thus helping consumers especially those sensory impaired consumers identify good quality food. Without the best before dates, consumers will rely solely on their senses to identify if food is still good or bad, which makes sensory impaired consumers vulnerable to foodborne illnesses when the spoiled products are consumed. To reduce food waste, it is advisable to have those food items near best before dates to be put on sale or donated to food banks or communities.

Disadvantages: If instructions are unclear, some consumers may mistakenly eat food over its expiration date, especially when it comes to perishables. If food safety isn't effectively conveyed, removing dates might cause confusion and even pose health hazards.

The most effective way to handle food waste issues could be a balanced one that incorporates better labeling systems with consumer education. 

Rather than completely eliminating dates, a better way to distinguish between food safety ("use by") and food quality ("best before") might be to mark products more clearly. 

In my view, eliminating best-before dates could play a vital role in reducing food waste. Rather than depending on these fixed labels, it makes more sense to focus on educating people about evaluating food quality through factors like proper storage and packaging. By encouraging practical, everyday knowledge, individuals could make more informed decisions and prevent unnecessary waste. Additionally, instead of best-before dates, clearly marking only the expiry date would be more effective for ensuring food safety, especially for those with weakened immune systems. This approach would streamline decision-making and enhance public safety, making it a more efficient solution overall.

Instead of removing the dates completely, I think a better idea is to help people understand thatBest before dates are about food quality, not safety. If we teach people to check their food like looking for bad smells or mold, they can tell if it’s safe to eat. We could also use smarter packaging that changes color to show when food is going bad.

This way, we can still reduce waste while making sure everyone stays safe.

However, I also think it’s important to clearly differentiate between "best before" and "use by" dates. While "best before" is about food quality, "use by" dates are linked to safety, particularly for perishable items. Eliminating "best before" dates entirely could confuse some consumers, especially with items that can spoil quickly. A balanced approach, such as clearer labeling or consumer education, would likely be more effective in reducing food waste while still prioritizing public health.

Student #: 301386791

Removing best before dates should not be removed from food product labels. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (2023), best before dates provide vital information for consumers on how long unopened food products must be stored properly to maintain their freshness, taste, and nutritional value. Without this information, it might lead to inconsistencies and potential risks to consumers; and could make it harder for them to assess whether the product is still safe to eat considering that different types of food have varying shelf-life and storage requirements.

However, the best approach to significantly reducing food waste is by educating consumers about the purpose of best before dates on labels and emphasizing the importance of following proper storage requirements so they can make an informed decision. Likewise, it is also important to inform consumers that foods can still be consumed beyond the labeled “best before date” if foods do not exhibit signs of spoilage, which can be assessed by sensory evaluation.

In my opinion, the best before date should not be removed from food. This information tells us how long a food can maintain the expected flavor, freshness, nutritional value or any indication declared by the manufacturer; by obtaining this information, we can reduce the garbage waste generated by spoiled food waste.

However, best before date does not guarantee the quality and safety of the product, so I think it's important that the consumers stay informed about the meaning of the dates found on the food labels to contribute to the reduction of food waste.

301403685

As it is known this date tell us when a product might be losing certain quality characteristics but do not represent a safety thread when consumed. Because of this I think this date can be removed in certain products. Food items with higher risk of being a good niche for the growth of microorganisms such as bread, salads, sliced fruits, etc, should maintain the best before dates to prevent any possible food poisoning. However other products like oil, vinegar, etc could be sold without this date as they reprensent a lesser threat. I believe this can encourage people to buy this products thus helping to figth food waste.

Also I would recommend to start an awareness campaing so that people can feel safe to consume this products knowing theit health is not compromised but also knowing it hepls to reduce food waste.

301382289

I believe best before dates should not be removed at all, as they provide a limit date until all nutritional properties remain intact, which in some foods might be necessary to know, for example functional foods, which have proven studies of their impact on health while the nutrients present. However, I believe that a better approach in sustainability can be the inclusion of the expiration date, so consumers will have a wider understanding about the food they eat, when is still safe to consume and when not.

I think keeping "best before" dates is important for ensuring food safety. These dates provide a clear guideline for when food might start to lose its quality or become unsafe to eat. Without these dates, people might not have a reliable way to judge the freshness of their food, which could lead to health risks. While it’s true that sometimes food is thrown away unnecessarily, the dates help prevent potential foodborne illnesses. I believe it’s better to improve how we use these dates and educate people about food safety rather than removing them entirely.

Student Number: 301355281

I think getting rid of best before dates could be a step towards reducing food waste, since many people don’t realize that these dates are more about quality than safety. Foods can often be eaten past their best before dates without any problem. However, these dates do offer useful guidance, and without them, people might feel unsure about food safety. Instead of removing them, it might be better to focus on educating people about how to store food properly, the difference between best before and use-by dates, and improving labels so that people can make smarter choices and cut down on waste.

In my opinion, removing or adjusting "best before" dates could help reduce food waste, but it needs to be done carefully. "Best before" dates often refer to food quality rather than safety, meaning many items are still perfectly safe to eat after these dates, but may have lost some freshness or flavor. People often mistakenly throw away food as soon as it passes the "best before" date, contributing to significant food waste, as they are not aware about the difference between "best before" and "use by" dates. So, encouraging people to use their senses—like smell and taste—to assess food can reduce waste, especially for non-perishable items. However, clear guidelines are needed to prevent confusion between "best before" and "use by" dates, which are critical for food safety. Hence, with proper education and consumer awareness, adjusting "best before" dates could help minimize unnecessary food waste without compromising human health.

The recent discussions around removing "best before" dates from food products aim to reduce food waste in Canada. As mentioned in the news clip, the federal government is considering removing these labels because they often cause confusion among consumers, leading to unnecessary food disposal even when the products are still safe to eat. The move could help reduce the significant amount of food waste generated in Canadian households by promoting a better understanding of food safety. However, critics may argue that removing these dates could raise food safety concerns for some consumers, requiring a strong emphasis on education and awareness.

Student Number: 301395559

The debate around removing "best before" dates to reduce food waste is gaining traction, as it presents both potential benefits and challenges. Many consumers confuse "best before" dates with "use by" dates, leading to unnecessary waste of food that is still safe to eat. "Best before" refers to the quality of a product, not its safety. Removing these dates could encourage people to rely more on their senses—such as smell, taste, and texture—to determine if food is still good, potentially reducing the amount of waste from items that are thrown away prematurely. Additionally, non-perishable items like canned goods and dried foods often remain edible well past their "best before" dates, and eliminating these labels could extend their perceived shelf life.

However, there are significant challenges to removing "best before" dates. Consumers might struggle to accurately assess the safety of perishable items like dairy, meat, and fresh produce without clear guidance, increasing the risk of foodborne illness. Moreover, many people rely on these labels for confidence in food quality, and removing them could undermine trust if they encounter products that seem stale or less fresh. In the supply chain, these dates help manufacturers and retailers manage stock rotation and food safety, so eliminating them could complicate logistics and stock control.

Instead of completely removing "best before" dates, a more balanced approach could involve clearer labeling. Highlighting "use by" dates for safety and limiting the use of "best before" labels to certain products could reduce confusion. Consumer education is also key—teaching people how to judge food quality by sensory cues could help reduce waste while keeping safety in mind. Another potential solution is dynamic expiration labels, which use technology to change based on a product's actual condition, providing a more accurate measure of freshness. In conclusion, while removing "best before" dates could reduce food waste for non-perishables, a combination of better labeling, education, and technology would likely be a more effective way to address both waste and safety concerns.

Student Number: 301277054

Answer: In my opinion, Many non-perishable foods, such as canned goods or dry products, remain safe and consumable long after their "best before" date. Removing the dates can allow consumers to keep and use these products over a longer period.

Supermarkets and retailers often dispose of food nearing its "best before" date. Eliminating the label can lead to fewer items being discarded, and more food available for redistribution to charities or at discounted prices for consumers.

Safety Concerns: There may be health hazards if "use by" dates—which specify when perishable foods should be thrown away—are removed. The differentiation between "use by" and "best before" ought to continue to be evident.

Customer Education: In order to prevent inadvertent hazards, consumers may require further information about safe food storage procedures and how to accurately assess the freshness of food.

Student Number- 301396736

Customers frequently misinterpret "best before" dates, believing that once the date has gone, food is no longer safe to consume. This causes food that is still edible to be thrown out needlessly. In the absence of the date, consumers may rely more on their senses—taste, smell, and appearance—to decide if food is still edible, which could result in less food being wasted. A lot of goods are safe to use long after the "best before" date, especially non-perishable goods. Their apparent usefulness could be increased by removing the date. On the other hand, a lot of individuals use "best before" dates to judge quality and freshness. Eliminating them could lead to confusion and leave customers unclear about the state of a product. In the absence of an obvious freshness indicator, some consumers may be hesitant to throw away food, which could work against the intended reduction in waste. For many products, having a "best before" date might still steer customers toward safer eating habits, even when the date is more about quality than safety.

Student number: 301379475

From my perspective, eliminating the best before dates could reduce the food wastage upto great extent. As most of the people rely on the best before dates to see if food is safe or not and if date has passed they just through the food even if food is still safe for human consumption. So, if there is no best before dates, consumer have to use their senses such as smell, texture and taste so by doing so alot of food product can be saved from putiing in garbage.

At last , i can say that removing best befor dates could proof helpful in reducing waste of food and for this we need to educate and aware to consumer about how to proper evaluate safe food.

Student number-301348501

In my opinion, best-before dates should be removed, as this might be a helpful step in decreasing food waste, but it should be done carefully and taking consumer choices into consideration. Best-before dates can sometimes be interpreted as measures of the quality of food rather than safety, leading to misconceptions among the public. This misconception contributes greatly to the worldwide food wastage growing by causing perfectly edible food to be thrown away unnecessarily. By simply removing away with these dates, customers may be encouraged to judge food quality more by using their senses—taste, smell, and visual inspection which may ultimately result in less food waste. But in the absence of "best before" dates, some consumers would question the safety of the item. This could result in excessively careful eating, where food is thrown out too soon, or in using food that is beyond its best, which could have an adverse effect on quality and taste. Improved labeling that emphasizes when to use food, how to keep it, and how to determine its freshness should help consumers make smarter decisions while also cutting down on waste .

SID: 301350498

While many people perceive best before dates as an indicator that food has gone bad, their original purpose is to inform consumers that the product's quality and nutritional value may begin to decline after this date. Food past its best before date is often still safe and edible. However, although best before dates don’t necessarily indicate spoilage, they do provide useful information about the product’s freshness.

Therefore, I believe there should be a balance between reducing food waste and keeping consumers informed about the freshness of products. For perishable items, I suggest using "use by" dates instead of "best before" to emphasize safety, while also allowing consumers to store their food with greater confidence for an extended period. While for non-perishable items, best before or expiration dates could be removed, as they are less critical. This approach would help minimize confusion and cut down on unnecessary food waste.

Student id- 301410514

I think removing best-before dates could make people more conscious about how they store and check their food. Without the dates, people might inspect their food more carefully rather than just throwing it away based on a label. However, I realize that many rely on these dates for ease, especially if they're unsure how to spot spoiled food. So, while removing the dates could help cut down on waste, it should be paired with greater awareness about food safety. In the end, the aim should be to reduce waste while keeping food safe to eat.

Student Number: 301359492

From my perspective, I consider that the best before labels from food packacking should be removed from certain perishable products with a higher spoilage rate since they do not show a real date of quality of the food and can cause damage to the human being. In addition, this food products produce greater waste as they are not consumed due to their immediate degradation.

Best before labels should be interpreter in a better way by consumers noticing and choosing products based on their quality and safety.

Eliminating "best before" dates from food labels could greatly reduce food waste, providing benefits to both the environment and consumers. These dates often create confusion, leading people to throw away food that is still perfectly safe to eat, mistaking the best before date as an indicator of safety rather than quality. In reality, these labels signify when food is at its peak quality, not when it becomes unsafe, and removing them could encourage consumers to assess food based on its actual condition, such as its smell, appearance, and texture.

From an environmental perspective, food waste is a major issue, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and burdening waste management systems. Removing these dates could improve food security. Retailers and consumers often dispose of food that is still safe to eat, creating unnecessary shortages, especially for those dependent on food banks. Without the limitations imposed by "best before" dates, surplus food could be distributed to those in need, helping to alleviate food insecurity across the country.

In a country like Canada, quality of every commodities is of prime importance, thereby what I would suggest is: Companies should stick on to the qualities, they currently offer and retail prices should be as such, thereby a large group of people who are very sensitive to food can consume them. On the other hand, once the food surpass the best before date, they should be priced lower, so the middle class and lower middle class can afford the same food.

In summary, eliminating "best before" dates would promote more responsible consumption, significantly cut down on food waste, address environmental concerns, and improve food security for vulnerable communities.

However, removing best before dates entirely could pose risks, especially with perishable items. For foods that spoil quickly, like dairy or meat, consumers may struggle to judge when the food has gone bad, which could lead to an increase in foodborne illnesses. Without clear guidance on when food is no longer safe to eat, some people might keep items for too long, creating potential health risks. To balance this, clearer consumer education on how to store food properly and assess its freshness would be essential if best before dates were to be removed.

Additionally, alternative solutions to reduce food waste might involve keeping best before dates for highly perishable goods but removing or relaxing them for non-perishable items like dry pasta, canned goods, or snacks. Many of these products remain safe and usable well past their best before date, yet are discarded prematurely. In such cases, eliminating best before dates could allow retailers to sell these items for longer, potentially at a discount, which would not only reduce food waste but also make food more accessible and affordable for consumers.

In my opinion, removing best-before dates from food goods may reduce food waste by encouraging customers to rely on sensory signals. Castro (2019) claims that best-before dates are overwritten, as they frequently lead the customers to discard edible products due to overly cautious expiry labels. This can worsen food waste, especially because many products are safe to consume even after their designated best before date. However, I believe that just deleting these labels would not fully alleviate the food waste problem. Many consumers rely extensively on such dates because they lack confidence in determining the freshness of some things, particularly perishable foods such as dairy and meats. In my opinion, deleting best-before dates could be more beneficial, only if it is accompanied with public awareness campaigns or standards that educate people about safe food handling and storage. Furthermore, while decreasing waste is critical, consumer safety should remain our main priority, and more research may be required to guarantee that eliminating these dates does not unintentionally lead to foodborne illnesses.

Reference:

Castro, E. (2019). Best Before Date Necessity: A Reply to Psillos. Journal for General Philosophy of Science, 50(1), 163–169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10838-018-9425-0

I believe that removing best before dates has a chance to reduce food waste, but it must be applied wisely. A lot of food is wasted because consumers depend too much on these dates, which are frequently about quality instead of safety. If customers were encouraged to use their senses more for instance, checking to see if food still looks, smells, and tastes good it might reduce possible waste.

However, there are significant concerns. Removing these dates may be confusing or uncomfortable for certain individuals, especially those who are unfamiliar with creating food safety on their own. It may also pose health hazards if people consume food that is no longer safe to eat.

To achieve a balance, I think that clear labelling is the best option. For example, making an easier distinction between "use by" (for safety) and "best before" (for quality) could help to maintain safety while decreasing waste.

Student id: 301395565

In my opinion, removing best before dates could certainly reduce food waste. People are in a habit of throwing the food away once it reaches or crosses its best before date, thinking that once this line crosses, food can no longer be consumed. But the truth is that the food just loses its freshness and is still in a condition to be consumed. Removing the best before dates from the foods like packaged vegetables and fruits will encourage consumers to use their own judgement on the basis of physical appearance and taste of the food to decide whether the food can be eaten or not. I think implementing this step of removing best before dates has a great potential to reduce consumer waste to a large extent.

Reasons to Remove Dates:

1. People Misunderstand the Labels Many people throw away food just because it’s reached the date on the package, even though it’s still safe to eat. By getting rid of these dates or rethinking them, people might rely on their senses—like smell or appearance—to decide if food is still good.

2. Long Shelf Life Foods Don’t Need Dates Foods like pasta, rice, or canned goods usually last much longer than the dates suggest. Removing the dates could stop people from throwing them out too early.

3. Cutting Food Waste Food waste is a huge global problem. Without dates, stores might sell more items, and people may be less likely to waste food just because of labeling confusion.

Reasons to Keep Dates:

1. Safety Risks Perishable items like meat, dairy, and fresh produce can be dangerous to eat if they go bad. Dates help people know when these foods are no longer safe to consume.

2. Consumer Trust Many shoppers rely on the dates to feel sure about food safety. If the dates are removed, they might get confused or worry about buying certain products.

3. Legal Issues If someone eats expired food and gets sick, companies could face legal problems. So, removing dates needs to be done carefully to avoid this risk.

Summary:

Getting rid of dates or changing them could help lower food waste, but it’s important to ensure food safety and educate the public. Instead of removing dates entirely, clearer labels or new systems might work better to cut waste without putting anyone at risk.

Reasons to Remove Dates:

1. People Misunderstand the Labels Many people throw away food just because it’s reached the date on the package, even though it’s still safe to eat. By getting rid of these dates or rethinking them, people might rely on their senses—like smell or appearance—to decide if food is still good.

2. Long Shelf Life Foods Don’t Need Dates Foods like pasta, rice, or canned goods usually last much longer than the dates suggest. Removing the dates could stop people from throwing them out too early.

3. Cutting Food Waste Food waste is a huge global problem. Without dates, stores might sell more items, and people may be less likely to waste food just because of labeling confusion.

Reasons to Keep Dates:

1. Safety Risks Perishable items like meat, dairy, and fresh produce can be dangerous to eat if they go bad. Dates help people know when these foods are no longer safe to consume.

2. Consumer Trust Many shoppers rely on the dates to feel sure about food safety. If the dates are removed, they might get confused or worry about buying certain products.

3. Legal Issues If someone eats expired food and gets sick, companies could face legal problems. So, removing dates needs to be done carefully to avoid this risk.

Summary:

Getting rid of dates or changing them could help lower food waste, but it’s important to ensure food safety and educate the public. Instead of removing dates entirely, clearer labels or new systems might work better to cut waste without putting anyone at risk.

Disha patel

301411100

The main intention of providing information regarding best before date is to inform consumers about the date until which the freshness, taste, texture, nutrition, and other qualitative parameters can remain at its peak level or as claimed by the food manufacturer. Best before date is not an indicator of food safety which in fact is for the quality. Products can be unsafe to eat even before best before date if the food is stored improperly or is opened from the package. Removing the best before date does not guarantee a significant reduction in food waste and might not be a permanent solution. Instant removal of best before dates could lead to more confusion and doubt among consumers. Further, it is right of the consumer to know and choose the food of their choice based on freshness and quality. So, removing a best before date could mean taking this right away from consumer for some people. The main reason for discarding food crossing best before date is misconception and lack of knowledge about best before date and expiration date. So, the solution for this is educating the consumers about the difference between best before date and expiration date. Additionally, it should also be notified to the consumers that it is absolutely safe to eat food products even after it cross the best before date. Some of the ways to remove such misconception  could possibly be by including the meaning of best before dates at the bottom of the food label, sticking posters on groceries or supermarket illustrating the difference between best before, expiration date and safeness of the food crossing best before dates, spreading knowledge through audio-visual infographic via different social media platforms with support of government.

Supporters claim that a lot of customers mistake "best before" for an expiration date and throw out food that is still okay to eat. They think that if these dates were removed, consumers would be more likely to rate food freshness based on sensory cues, such as smell, taste, and sight, which might lead to a decrease in food waste.

Opponents fear that eliminating "best before" dates might lead to misunderstanding and a higher chance of consumers eating tainted or unsafe food. The dates are meant to serve as a benchmark for the best freshness, so eliminating them could make it more difficult for customers to determine whether food is still safe.
Educating customers on the distinction between "best before" and "use by" dates—the former emphasizing quality, the latter safety—might be a balanced strategy. Changing the labels on dates might help cut waste without compromising security.

301317802

Eliminating best before dates could help reduce food waste, but it's a complicated issue with pros and cons. However, I believe it’s better not to remove them because these dates let people know when the food is at its best in terms of flavor, texture, and nutrition. A better solution would be to educate the public so they understand that food is still generally safe to eat after the best before date, rather than having to sniff, guess or check the food themselves. Many people might feel uneasy buying food without any indication of when it might start to spoil.

In conclusion, removing best before dates could potentially reduce food waste by encouraging consumers to use their judgement rather than discarding food prematurely. However, there are concerns about food safety and public perception that would need to be addressed through consumer education and clearer labeling practices.

ReplyForward

Add reaction

Student Id: 301299707

In my perspective removing best before dates to reduce food waste is a debated idea. It can be included in both safety as well as quality issue in food industry. On one hand, many people throw away food just because it's past the date, even though it's still safe to eat. This contributes to unnecessary food waste. However, these dates can help consumers know when food is at its freshest. Removing them could lead to confusion and people keeping food too long, increasing health risks. Instead of removing best before dates, better education on what they mean and how to assess food quality could be a more balanced solution.

Student ID: 301271864

Eliminating best before dates could effectively mitigate food waste. Individuals tend to discard food once it reaches or surpasses its best before date, assuming that it becomes inedible beyond this point as most of them do not know the difference between expiry and best before dates. However, the food simply loses its freshness and remains suitable for consumption. Eliminating best before dates on items such as packaged vegetables and fruits would encourage consumers to rely on their judgment based on the visual appearance and taste of the food to determine its edibility. I believe that implementing this measure of eliminating best before dates holds significant potential to reduce consumer waste considerably.

I believe best before dates should be removed to prevent further wastage of food as consumers should be allowed to judge the quality of the food by smell, taste as food is still significantly safe to consume after best before dates.

These dates om fresh produce i.e, fruits and vegetables make conumsers very picky about getting only the moat fresh possible as the older it gets on date; the higher the chances are that consumers will not going to buy it leading to ethical issues as well with food wastage.

Rather than printing best before dates, it could be replace with other labels as "safe to use until" which could minimize food waste. Thank you

301403915

I think getting rid of "best before" dates could help cut down on food waste because we’d rely more on our senses instead of just throwing away food based on the date. But I’m worried that without these dates, it might be harder to tell if food is still safe to eat, which could make me unsure about eating it. It might be better to make labels clearer and teach people the difference between "use by" and "best before" dates. Using smart packaging and improving food donation programs could also help reduce waste.

Without the shelf life labelling, people can eat spoiled food that leads to food poisoning and other diseases. Also, if there is no any best before date in the packaging, it is confusing for individuals to make a plan of when to prepare which food product first in order to eat every products they have in their fridges . Not every individual have a good sensory ability to differentiate freshness of foods.

Therefore, it is important to have the best before dates in every food products so that people can eat while it's fresh and also for the proper planning in using a specific food product first to eat.

Student ID: 301437399

Removing "best before" dates might help cut down on food waste by stopping people from throwing away food that is still safe to eat. Many people mistake these dates for expiration markers. Without these dates, consumers might start using their senses, like smell and appearance, to decide if food is still good. However, there are concerns about food safety since some people might find it hard to judge if food is still safe to eat. Additionally, there could be confusion between "best before" and "expiration" dates, which could lead to health risks. While this change could reduce waste, it needs clear labeling and education to ensure food safety.

301323101

I do not think the best before dates should be removed completely from all the products. The consumers have the right to know about every information of the product they are consuming.  Instead of that, I think if people are aware about the right purpose of the best before date then it can help to reduce the food waste caused due to the best before dates. People should be aware that best before dates only indicates the time till the food is fresh, tastiest and nutrient rich. After the best before date the food is still edible and can be consumed before its expiry date. Even if  the food product is past its best before date and starts to spoil then it can be noted by sensory evaluation. 

However, there are significant drawbacks to consider. Best-before dates offer a sense of safety and assurance, and their removal could lead to confusion or anxiety about food safety, particularly for individuals who are less confident in their ability to judge food quality. This is especially pertinent for perishable items, where consuming food too late might pose health risks. Instead of removing best-before dates entirely, a more effective approach might involve better educating consumers on how to interpret these dates and promoting clearer labeling practices. Emphasizing that best-before dates relate to food quality rather than safety could help reduce unnecessary waste while still ensuring that food safety standards are met.

Extending Shelf Life Perception: These dates can be discarded so that people store food for a longer period, especially non-perishable foods, which are safe for use after the printed date, thus reducing food wastage.
It could also help consumers and retailers cut the costs of food waste that occurs because many people get confused about the difference between ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ dates.

301258301

I believe removing "best before" dates could potentially reduce food waste by addressing the common misconception that food is no longer safe to consume once these dates pass. However, this approach needs to be balanced with food safety considerations. Best before dates help ensure that food quality is maintained, and removing them might lead to increased confusion or risk of consuming spoiled items. Instead, enhancing food labeling clarity, educating consumers on sensory evaluation of food freshness, and promoting alternative solutions such as smart packaging or improved food redistribution systems could offer practical ways to reduce waste while maintaining safety and quality standards.

SIN: 301351161

Eliminating "best before" dates may contribute to less food waste. Even though the food is still safe to eat, a lot of people discard it when it reaches this date. "Best before" dates usually relate to quality rather than security. Individuals who rely more on their senses—taste, smell, and appearance—may waste less food. However, since "use by" dates are related to food safety, it's crucial to ensure that people are aware of the distinction between "best before" and "use by" dates.
Therefore, eliminating "best before" dates might be a step in the right direction, but it would also require improved food safety education.

301395610

Removing "best before" dates to prevent food waste has both advantages and disadvantages. While it may avoid the waste of perfectly edible food and encourage people to use their senses to determine freshness, it also raises worries about food safety and misunderstanding. Many people may misinterpret the distinction between "best before" and "use by" dates, posing dangers if spoilt food is ingested. Instead of completely deleting these dates, a preferable strategy could be to use clearer labelling and public education to assist consumers make educated decisions while safely minimising waste.

student id- 301293190

according to me the best option is to change the name of the label. instead of "best before" food manufacturers should provide the expiry date on the product with the buffer time which will help reduce the waste reduction drastically. in addition, government and food manufacturers should run the educational and advertisement campaign to spread awareness about the difference between best before and expiry.

i can agree with the fact that best before give you the idea about the products peak freshness. however, it can also known by expiry date which is much better than the other as it gives you the approximate idea about the total shelf life of the product.

in contrast, this fresh produce should be exempt from this as it has very short shelf life and can be a reason for serious contamination if consumed after.

4o

A more balanced strategy might include better labeling that makes a distinction between use by dates (safety) and best before dates (quality). Consumers who are educated about food preservation and storage may be able to make better decisions without depending just on dates.

In conclusion, eliminating "best before" dates could aid in waste reduction, but it would need to be carefully considered in terms of consumer safety and education to make sure there are no unfavorable effects.

"Best before" dates have a big influence on sustainability because they increase food waste. Because many people confuse "best before" dates with expiration dates, edible food is thrown out, exacerbating environmental problems such landfill greenhouse gas emissions.
Some merchants are eliminating "best before" labels from specific products in an effort to avoid needless waste and increase sustainability. Another way to reduce food waste and its negative effects on the environment is to educate customers about the distinction between "best before" and expiration dates.

While removing expiration dates could potentially reduce food waste by encouraging consumers to use judgement and weigh the potential benefits against the risk of compromising food safety, especially for perishable foods.

name: Smita Patel

Student number: 301405077

One of the arguments against removing "best before" dates is that they ensure that products meet basic standards of quality and freshness. They give some indication to the consumer when the food might become less fresh or degrade in taste or texture. If these were removed, the number of customers dissatisfied with their purchases would rise since they don't quite match expectations, though still safe to eat. Moreover, even without the "best before" dates, people may be discarding the food anyway because of uncertainty it instills about its freshness, which may defeat the very purpose of reducing waste.

Additionally, it is essential to consider the distinction between best before and use-by dates. Best before dates indicate food quality rather than safety, and removing them could lead to confusion among consumers regarding what is still safe to eat. A comprehensive education campaign could address this issue by informing the public about how to assess food quality properly and the differences between various date labels.

Retailers could also play a significant role by implementing strategies such as dynamic pricing for items approaching their best before dates, thus incentivizing sales and minimizing waste. However, any changes would require regulatory adjustments, which could involve significant challenges in the food production and retail sectors.

In summary, while the removal of best before dates has the potential to reduce food waste, it must be executed thoughtfully, with an emphasis on consumer safety and education to ensure that the goal of minimizing waste does not compromise food safety.

1. Consumer Perception: Many people mistakenly believe that food is unsafe to eat after the best before date, leading to premature disposal. By removing these dates, consumers might be encouraged to rely more on their senses (sight, smell, taste) to assess food quality.

2. Focus on Food Safety: Instead of best before dates, labeling could focus on clear guidance for food safety, such as “use by” dates for perishables. This would help consumers distinguish between foods that are safe to consume and those that are not.

3. Encouraging Responsible Consumption: Without the pressure of a date label, consumers might feel more empowered to use leftovers or less-than-perfect produce, fostering a culture of minimizing waste.

If "best before" dates were removed, people might hesitate to consume products once they seem even slightly old, which could actually increase food waste. Instead of removing the dates, I think we should focus on educating consumers about the difference between "best before" and "expiration" dates, so we can safely reduce waste without compromising food safety or quality.

301396245

Removing "best before" dates could help reduce food waste by preventing the unnecessary disposal of edible food. Many people confuse these dates with expiration dates and throw away good food. Without the dates, people would use their senses to judge if food is still fresh. This change could make people more aware of food quality and reduce reliance on packaging for safety. However, some might keep food too long and risk safety issues. A better solution could be to remove the dates from non-perishable items and teach people about food storage. This way, we could reduce waste while still keeping food safe.

Advantages: Many consumers discard perfectly good food because they rely strictly on best-before dates, which often lead to premature disposal. If best-before dates were removed, people might rely more on their senses—like smell, taste, and appearance—to judge food safety. This change could significantly cut down on food waste, especially for non-perishable items like dry goods, canned foods, and frozen products, which often remain safe long after their labeled dates.

Challenges: However, removing best-before dates entirely might also cause confusion about food quality, especially for perishable items like dairy and meat. While food might still be safe, its quality may decline, and without guidance, some consumers might still err on the side of caution and discard it. Also, vulnerable populations, like the elderly, might struggle without clear date labels, leading to potential food safety risks.

Conclusion: While removing best-before dates could reduce food waste, it should be paired with public education on food safety, helping people confidently identify when food is truly unsafe to eat. Another option could be clearer labeling, such as separating quality and safety indicators on packaging.

From a sustainability perspective, reconsidering "best before" dates could help reduce waste by encouraging consumers to rely on sensory evaluation—smell, taste, and appearance—rather than strictly adhering to printed dates. This shift could also aid retailers in managing inventory more effectively.

However, any changes must balance consumer safety and confidence. Removing or reforming "best before" dates could create uncertainty, especially for less confident consumers. Therefore, educational campaigns are essential to clarify the meaning of these dates and promote mindful consumption practices.

In summary, while "best before" dates have their purpose, enhancing labeling clarity and increasing consumer education can support sustainability efforts and reduce food waste without compromising safety.

Best-before dates help shops rotate their stock, give customers a better idea of how fresh a product is, and allow for discounts on products that are about to expire. They can, however, also cause confusion since many individuals confuse them for quality markers instead of safety indications. Alternative strategies to total elimination may include implementing technology like intelligent packaging to more precisely signal food freshness, increasing label clarity, or educating consumers about the significance of best-before dates.

However, removing best before dates entirely might create confusion, leading to potential health risks if consumers aren't confident in assessing the condition of food. A middle-ground solution could be redefining or educating consumers about the difference between "best before" and "use by" dates. Another option could be using smart packaging that changes color based on the actual freshness of the food, offering a more accurate and reliable measure.

This approach could strike a balance between reducing unnecessary food waste and ensuring food safety.

Benefits of Removing Best Before Dates:

• Less Food Waste: People may throw away food that is still good to eat.

• Using Senses: Without dates, consumers will check food for freshness by looking, smelling, and tasting.

• Clearer Labels: Simplifying labels can make it easier to understand what they mean.

Challenges:

• Education Needed: People need to learn how to check food freshness without relying on dates.

• Alternative Labels: Some products use labels like "best if used by," which can clarify quality vs. safety.

• Standardization: Consistent labeling across brands can reduce confusion.

In summary, while removing best-before dates can help, it also requires educating consumers and improving labeling practices.

1. Reduces Consumer Confusion: The largest benefit. "Best before" is about quality (e.g., taste, texture), not safety. People often mistake it for "use by" (which is for safety on highly perishable foods like meat). Removing it stops good food from being thrown away based on an arbitrary date.

2. Encourages Sensory Evaluation: It prompts people to use their own senses—look, smell, taste—to decide if food is still good. This is a more accurate way to judge the edibility of many items like yogurt, eggs, or produce.

3. Lowers Household Food Waste: A significant portion of food waste occurs in homes. Removing the date eliminates a primary reason people discard food that is still perfectly safe to eat.

4. Reduces Environmental Impact: Less food waste means less methane gas from landfills, less energy and water used to produce food that is never eaten, and a lower overall carbon footprint.

A better solution is to improve labeling and education:

• Use clearer, more informative labels such as “consume by,” “best if used by,” or smart indicators like color-changing stickers.

• Educate consumers on how to assess food quality using sight, smell, and taste rather than relying solely on dates.

• Encourage proper storage practices to extend the life of foods.

By keeping best-before dates but making them more meaningful and understandable, we can reduce food waste without compromising safety.

(301485161)

Removing best-before dates could reduce food waste by encouraging people to rely on sight, taste, and texture rather than printed labels. For example, canned beans or dry pasta often stay safe long after their date yet are thrown away unnecessarily.

This shift promotes smarter habits and less landfill waste. With better public awareness and clear safety labels for perishables, we could eat more responsibly without compromising health.

However, I believe that we should educate the general population on the differences between expiry and best before dates if we want to reduce waste and also protect people from eating potentially harmful food.

Also briefly explain that some foods can even surpass the expiracy for a couple of days and that a correct cooking or processing should be enough to still consider it safe to eat. Teach the population on how to sensory evaluate if a food still is viable for its consumption.

To sum up, best before dates should be improved, not removed.

301313995

I am one of the many people who discard perfectly acceptable food due to best before labels, even though they are more about quality than safety. Eliminating or reconsidering these labels could encourage me to trust my senses more tasting, smelling, and seeing. It will also reduce food waste, which lowers environmental impact and saves money. However, I can see why there are best before dates; they provide comfort and safeguard those who might be hesitant to judge the safety of food, particularly when it comes to dairy, meat, and prepared foods. A well-rounded approach would maintain strict "use by" dates for safety while clarifying best before dates as quality standards, backed by food safety education. I could waste less without endangering myself or other people in this way.

I am not in line with the idea of removing the best-before dates on any food product. The best-before dates give the customer or consumer information about what they are purchasing or about to eat. Also, from a food safety point of view, this information is very important. With the best-before dates on a food product, customers/consumers will know the quantity of the food products they can buy and know for how long they can keep them in the best possible state, thus reducing food waste. In addition, the best-before dates can give a lot of information should there be any recall about that product.

Eliminating "best before" dates might lower food waste, though success hinges on the implementation. These labels signal peak quality rather than when food becomes unsafe. Consumers frequently discard items after the date expires, despite them remaining edible, resulting in avoidable waste. Eliminating or revising such labels could prompt people to evaluate food using their senses—like sight, smell, and flavor—rather than relying solely on dates. That said, retaining some type of direction is key for health protection and public trust. An improved strategy could involve informing people on the distinction between "best before" (for quality) and "use by" (for safety) dates, or adopting innovative options like freshness sensors, rather than abolishing dates entirely.

Best- before dates indicate food quality, not safety, but many people confuse them with expiry dates and throw away edible food. Removing best-before dates from low-risk items, like fruits, vegetables, or dry goods, could help reduce food waste. For instance, UK supermarkets like Morrisons have removed them on fresh produce, encouraging customers to judge freshness themselves. However, for perishable foods like dairy, meat, and fish, dates remain important for safety. Without best-before dates, some consumers may feel uncertain or risk eating spoiled food. A balanced approach is to keep them only for safety- critical products and educate people about the difference between "best before" and "expiry". This way, food waste can be reduced while still protecting public health.

I think removing best before dates could help reduce food waste, but it depends on how it’s done. Many people confuse “best before” with “expiry date,” throwing away perfectly safe food just because the date has passed.

Best before dates usually refer to quality, not safety, meaning the food might lose a bit of flavor or texture but is still fine to eat. If those dates were replaced with clearer labeling, like “use by” for safety and “best taste before” for quality, people might make more informed choices instead of automatically tossing food.

However, removing the dates entirely could also cause confusion or lead to health risks if people keep food for too long.

The better solution might be education and awareness—teaching people how to judge food by smell, texture, and appearance rather than relying only on printed dates.

That way, we can reduce waste while keeping food safety in mind.

In my opinion, the best before should not be removed and instead of removing best before date, expiry date should also be included. Best before date is important in the food products. Even the best before of food products are over due, it does not mean the food products are bad. Best before dates indicates the time period of the food product stays in its best quality. Some people think best before date as like expiry date and they will throw out the food products after that date. There is no harm in consuming the food products after its best before date. If people still have no idea about these dates, the best way to make aware of them is to put both best before date and expiry date. In this way people can know by what date it should consume in its best quality and by what date it should be consumed at most.

However, removing best before dates entirely could create confusion or potential health risks if consumers cannot tell when food is no longer safe to eat. A more effective approach might be to improve food labeling by using clearer terms or educational campaigns that help consumers understand the difference between “best before” and “use by” dates. Some countries and food companies are already experimenting with new ways of labeling, such as adding smart sensors that track freshness or encouraging people to rely more on their senses—sight, smell, and taste—to assess food quality. Overall, rather than completely removing best before dates, a balance between consumer education, better labeling, and improved packaging technology may be the best solution to reduce food waste while maintaining food safety.

It would be better if the labels were clearer, like showing the difference between “best before” for taste and “use by” for safety. People could also learn to check food by smelling or looking at it instead of just trusting the date. This could help reduce a lot of food waste.

​I believe that "best before" dates are a major cause of unnecessary food waste. The main problem is that most people think this date is a safety deadline, when it’s really just an estimate of peak quality. We know that most foods are perfectly safe to eat long after their "best before" date, but they might just lose a bit of their crunch or flavor.

​However, simply removing the dates altogether is not a good solution. It could leave consumers feeling uncertain and anxious about their food. This might even cause them to throw things out sooner "just to be safe," which would make the food waste problem even worse.

​The best solution is to change the wording to be less confusing. I think we need a clear, two-part system that everyone can understand:

​"Use By": This date would be for safety and used only on high-risk foods like deli meats or fresh juices.

​"Best Quality By": This would replace "best before" on all other foods (like cereal, pasta, and canned goods).

For example, things like pasta, rice, or canned food are still good to eat long after the date if they’re stored properly — they might not taste as fresh. Instead of removing the label, companies could add a note like “Still safe to eat after this date if stored correctly.” That would help people understand better and stop throwing away good food.

So we should keep best-before dates, but make them easier to understand for everyone.

If best before labels were removed—or replaced with clearer wording such as “tastes best before”—consumers might rely more on their senses (smell, sight, taste) to decide if food is still good. However, without proper education, removing these dates could also increase the risk of foodborne illness, especially for perishable items like dairy or meat.

A better solution might be revising labeling standards to make the difference between best before and expiry dates clearer and encouraging food companies to use smarter packaging (like freshness sensors) to show real spoilage, not just estimated shelf life.

Instead of removing best-before dates, we should focus on educating consumers about their meaning, explaining that food past its best-before date is often still safe to eat if it looks, smells, and tastes fine. This approach can reduce food waste without compromising safety or transparency.