Asda has announced a major change in a bid to help customers save money.
The supermarket has revealed its plans to remove the best before dates on almost 250 of its fresh fruit and vegetable products.
Asda hopes that removing the best before date will encourage customers to decide for themselves if the food is edible - reducing food waste and saving customers money in the process.
The best before dates will be removed on several packaged fruit and vegetable products from September 1.
This includes citrus fruits, potatoes, cauliflowers, and carrots, across all of its UK stores.
Instead of the dates, the items will have a new code which will be used by store colleagues to ensure the quality and freshness is maintained.
Asda has also said that there are specialist greengrocers in over 250 of its stores who have received training on where products should be stored to maintain freshness and quality.
The change follows research showing that the average family throws away £60 worth of food and drink each month, according to action group WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).
WRAP said they are “delighted” by the supermarket’s new policy and would like to see other retailers follow suit.
The action group also found food waste to be a significant contributor to climate change globally, accounting for 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
In the UK alone, food waste is responsible for an estimated 36 million tonnes of GHG emissions every year.
Andy Cockshaw, Head of Technical at Asda IPL said: “Reducing food waste in our business and in customers’ homes is a priority and we are always looking at different ways to achieve this.
“We know for customers this has become more important than ever in the current climate as many families are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and are looking to make savings wherever they can.”
Catherine David, Director of Collaboration and Change at WRAP, said: “We are delighted by this development from ASDA to help tackle food waste in our homes.
“Our research has shown that date labels on fruit and veg are unnecessary – getting rid of them can prevent the equivalent of 7 million shopping baskets’ worth from our household bins.
“Storing most fruit and veg products in the fridge, below 5 degrees, will keep them fresher longer.
“We know that wasting food feeds climate change and costs us money.
“The influence of no date label or the right date label on what we use and what we throw away is huge.
“It is great to see ASDA making these changes and we encourage their customers to check out Love Food Hate Waste for tips on how to reduce food waste, save money and fight climate change.
“More supermarkets need to get ahead on food waste by axing date labels from fresh produce, allowing people to use their own judgement.”
Removing the best before date is one in a series of moves that Asda has taken to reach its target of a 20% reduction in waste by 2025.
