The company said the label on packets and containers will instead be replaced by a best before date as guidance. Six million people in the UK eat yoghurt daily, the supermarket said. But research from recycling charity Wrap shows half of the yoghurts are binned unopened, mainly because they were not eaten before the recommended date. The charity’s research has also suggested that 70% of food waste happens in homes.
Use-by labels are the dates until which perishable food can be cooked and consumed safely. Best before guidance, meanwhile, is for when the product should be consumed to get the best quality, taste and texture. Nick Cornwall, head of food technology at the Co-op, said yoghurt can be safe if stored unopened in a fridge after the date mark, as the acidity of the dairy product acts as a natural defence against spoiling.
He explained the supermarket was encouraging shoppers to “use their judgment” if their yoghurt has passed its best before date, adding the move was designed to help reduce food waste. For foods with a best before date, the FSA urges people to use their senses to check whether it is appropriate to eat. It suggests smelling some dairy products with a best before the date to see if they have soured.
Mr Cornwall said the move would hopefully help customers to make minor changes that can “collectively make a big impact and combat unnecessary food waste”. “Controlling food waste is not only beneficial for managing household budgets, but it also has an environmental benefit and will ultimately help reduce carbon emissions,” he added. Mr Cornwall also called on other retailers and food brands to review their own pack guidance practices and also make the yoghurt labelling switch.
Catherine David from Wrap said the charity was “delighted” at the change, as the date listed on yoghurt packets is a “fundamental reason that it is wasted at home”. “Wasting food feeds climate change and costs money,” she said. “Applying a best before a date helps give people the confidence to use their judgment to eat beyond a best before date and use more of the yoghurt they buy – protecting the planet and their pockets.”
