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To mark European Waste Reduction Week, Too Good To Go asked Austrians about their views on best-before dates (BBDs). Every year, we throw away over one million tons of food in Austria, with private households accounting for half of this. According to the WWF, the best-before date is a driving factor in disposing of food even though it is still edible. The latest survey confirms this assumption and shows that many myths about best-before dates are floating around in people’s heads.
Deadly or edible after all?
Over two-thirds of Austrians believe that products cannot be safely consumed after the best-before date (BBD). Men, in particular, are more convinced that food no longer has the same quality after the best-before date. However, the date is merely a guarantee chosen by the manufacturer that the food has not changed in taste, consistency or appearance by this date. Products that have passed their best-before date may still be sold in stores, but almost half of Austrians are convinced that food should no longer be sold after its best-before date.
Best before date in a generational conflict
Almost all respondents stated that they pay attention to the best-before date when shopping, and just under half (47%) consciously choose products with a best-before date in the future. The young generation of 18 to 25-year-olds is the frontrunner here, while the older generations are more likely to choose products with a short best-before date if they are reduced. Regarding dairy products and eggs, respondents are most likely to pay attention to the best-before date. Here too, 41% of 18- to 25-year-olds would throw away a dairy product within a week of the best-before date, while the +55 generation is most likely to check the product’s condition before throwing it away (80%).
Fear of mold (68%) is the most common reason respondents throw away food, followed by concerns about food poisoning and feeling unwell (67%). Men (77%) are significantly more afraid of this than women (57%).
More education for less waste
The survey by the Social Impact company against food waste clearly shows a need for much more education about best-before dates. Contrary to popular belief, the best-before date merely states that the product will retain its smell, taste, texture, nutritional value, colour, and consistency until this date if stored correctly. Unlike the “use by” date, after which products such as meat and fish should no longer be consumed as there is a health risk, most foods are edible well beyond their best-before date.
Too Good To Go has launched the “Oft Länger Gut” campaign to raise awareness. This involves printing “Often good for longer” directly next to the best-before date on food. Over six billion products already carry this label. The initiative has been in place in Austria since 2021, and more than 60 brands use the label on selected products. The initiative and producers encourage consumers to use their senses before disposing of food. This raises awareness of unnecessary food waste and demonstrates a simple testing method: look, smell, and taste before throwing the food away because it is often good for longer.
- source: gesund24.at/picture:
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