AUSTRALIA | Nestlé has launched ‘Sniff, Look, Taste,’ a pilot in collaboration with OzHarvest, designed to tackle one of the most common causes of household food waste: date label confusion.
Each year, Australia wastes 7.6 million tonnes of food, with households responsible for around one-third of this, despite 70 percent of it being perfectly good to eat. OzHarvest research showed that 58 percent of high-wasting households throw food away because they are unsure what Use By and Best Before dates mean.
OzHarvest Head of Impact Hally Lara said building confidence is key to helping Australians waste less food at home.
“Many Australians want to waste less, but they don’t always feel confident making the right call, especially when it comes to date labels," said Lara.
"Reducing household food waste is all about small changes that can make a huge difference. Bringing this simple message and actionable tips on Nestlé products, the “Sniff, Look Taste’ logo gives people the perfect reminder to take action."
The new ‘Sniff, Look, Taste’ on-pack logo will encourage 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 on-pack logo is now placed on MAGGI Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream 2 Minute Noodles 345g packs and MAGGI Smokey Barbecue 2 Minute Noodles 345g packs.
Nestlé Oceania Regulatory, Scientific and Nutrition Manager, Kirsten Grinter, said the initiative has been specifically designed to address one of the biggest barriers to reducing food waste at home – confusion over date labels.
“The simple rule is Use By is about safety, so always follow it. Best Before is about quality, so check it," she said.
"That difference matters, because it can help people stay safe without throwing away food that may still be perfectly good.”
The pilot was also informed by local and global research, including RMIT University and End Food Waste Australia.
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