‘Best before’ dates may be on the chopping block in Canadian stores

By Mackenzie DeRaad

Food waste has been an issue for a long time, likely because of the “best before” dates on many perishable products.

Eliminating the “best before” date on labels has been suggested, but Canadians are still hesitant to agree, according to a new report by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab of Dalhousie University.

It claims that most Canadians oppose eliminating the “best before” dates on their food.

At the same time, a University of Guelph expert says consumers should be better informed.

But why the resistance?

It might be because Canada is number-one in the world for food safety, the report says.

A total of 73% of Canadians reported that they will always look at the “best before” dates on dairy products, with similar percentages for seafood and meat products, according to the report, which is based on a survey by the polling firm Angus Reid Institute.

There is a misconception that food is unsafe to consume after the date has passed.

Jen Rustemeyer, a film producer and main star of Just Eat It, a documentary about living solely off of food waste, says food lasts far longer than its “best before” date.

She suggests manufacturers and food processors should at least change their wording.

“The date could be coded so consumers don’t see it or come with a label saying ‘best before doesn’t mean bad after’ or change it to ‘peak freshness’ or something else,” Rustemeyer said.

“I just ate some freeze-dried camp meals the other day that were 3 years past due. They were perfectly fine, and are probably good for at least another 10,” she said.

Keith Warriner, a professor of food science at the University of Guelph, says, “The main cause of food waste is buying too much and storing it inappropriately.

“As consumers, we can take a shopping list to reduce impulse buys,” he added.

“In the home, we can store foods appropriately. For example, potatoes are the most wasted vegetable and should be stored in the refrigerator.”

“I suspect most people store them at room temperature,” he said.

“Food waste reduction approaches are for publicity rather than effectiveness,” he said.

Warriner also said more than 50% of consumers follow the “best before” date instead of their senses when deciding whether “to stow or throw.”

Soon, however, consumers might safely use their products longer than previously.

Researchers are developing technologies to lengthen the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and low-moisture foods, according to Warriner.

With strawberries and avocados, for example, scientists have found a way to induce their defense systems to slow respiration and produce antioxidants that can lengthen shelf life by five days or more.

“Our primary research is in developing technologies to inactivate pathogens on fresh fruit and vegetables, low-moisture foods and meat,” Warriner said, and that reduces spoilage microbes and extends shelf-life.

So, how much longer will consumers be able to expect their food to last?

“With poultry and meat, we can extend shelf-life by two to three days above the typical seven days. With fruit, we found an additional mode of action is to induce the plants’ defense systems to slow down respiration and produce antioxidants,” Warriner said.

The report from Dalhousie also notes that UK chains like Morrison’s and Waitrose have already moved to eliminate “best before” dates.

Rustemeyer said, “I anecdotally think European countries are often farther along. But Canada is great at composting food scraps.”

“Times have changed so much since we filmed [Just Eat It]. Where we live, we now have curbside composting, zero-waste stores and ugly fruit and veg delivery” she added.

She also uses Flashfood, an app consumers can use to buy food that is imperfect or close to that “best before” date that so many Canadians are fighting to keep.

Flashfood isn’t only for Canadians though. Shoppers elsewhere can use the app to see if stores near them participate.