Nestlé launches on-pack date-labelling pilot to help tackle food waste

Nestlé has launched an Australian packaging pilot to help tackle one of the most common causes of household food waste: date label confusion.

The ‘Sniff, Look, Taste’ on-pack logo packaging pilot was developed in collaboration with OzHarvest and informed by its research and expertise. The pilot was also informed by local and global research, including RMIT University and End Food Waste Australia.

Date label misinterpretation continues to contribute to Australia’s 7.6 million tonnes of annual food waste, with OzHarvest research showing 58% of high-wasting households discard food due to uncertainty around ‘Use By’ and ‘Best Before’ dates.

To help consumers make more confident decisions at home, the new on-pack logo encourages Australians to pause before throwing food away, check the date label and, where a product is past its Best Before date, use their senses, in conjunction with the Best Before date, to determine whether it is still good to eat.

The logo is now appearing on selected MAGGI 2 Minute Noodles packs in supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide, bringing a simple reminder into everyday kitchens.

Rising food waste puts everyday habits in focus, with Australia’s annual food waste projected to reach 9.2 million tonnes by 2030 if nothing is done to address household food waste.

Nestlé Oceania Regulatory, Scientific and Nutrition Manager Kirsten Grinter said: “The simple rule is Use By is about safety, so always follow it. Best Before is about quality, so check it. That difference matters, because it can help people stay safe without throwing away food that may still be perfectly good.”

Image: Supplied