Sainsbury’s is changing its milk labelling to tackle food waste effectively.
- The supermarket will replace use-by dates with best-before dates on 44 products.
- This strategy targets over 730 million pints of milk sold annually across the UK.
- Research indicates milk is the third most wasted food in the UK.
- Sainsbury’s aims to help consumers decide when milk is still good to use.
Sainsbury’s has announced a significant change in its approach to milk labelling, aimed at reducing food waste. The supermarket giant will transition from use-by dates to best-before dates across its own-brand milk range, impacting 44 different products. This initiative will cover all fresh and organic milk sold throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, affecting over 730 million pints annually. The re-labelling process is expected to conclude by the end of February 2024.
The decision follows a study by climate NGO, Wrap, which reveals that milk is the third most wasted food item in the United Kingdom. Each year, more than 490 million pints are discarded, often due to the belief that it has gone off post its use-by date. By switching to best-before dates, Sainsbury’s hopes to encourage consumers to employ sensory checks, such as smelling the milk, to determine its fitness for consumption.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) delineates between use-by and best-before dates, noting that the latter pertains to food quality rather than safety. Consequently, milk past its best-before date may still be safe to drink, provided it has been stored correctly and displays no signs of spoilage. Sainsbury’s director of corporate responsibility and sustainability, Ruth Cranston, emphasises this point, stating, “By switching to best-before dates on our milk we are empowering customers to make their own decisions on whether their food is good to eat, helping to prevent them from disposing of food too early.“
This transition in labelling reflects a broader movement within the retail sector to combat food waste. Previously, in June, another major retailer, M&S, implemented a similar change for its RSPCA-assured fresh milk. The overall ambition for both companies is to significantly reduce food waste, with M&S aiming to halve it by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2040.
In addition to these efforts, Sainsbury’s is investing £6 million to support its dairy farmers, with £4.3 million allocated to increase the payment farmers receive per litre of milk. This financial support coincides with the labelling changes, reinforcing Sainsbury’s commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing practices.
Sainsbury’s new labelling strategy underscores its commitment to reducing food waste and encouraging responsible consumer habits.
