Waitrose has become the latest UK supermarket to scrap best before dates on hundreds of products in an attempt to tackle food waste.
It will remove the dates from nearly 500 items of fresh food – including fruit and vegetables – from September. Tesco and Marks & Spencer have also scrapped best before dates on some of their products.
Use by labels are the dates until which perishable food can be cooked and consumed safely. Best before guidance, however, is for when the product should be consumed to get the best quality, taste and texture.
The Food Standards Agency says it is up to manufacturers to decide whether to apply a use by or best before date on their products. It will depend on factors such as how the food is made and how risky it is.