Marks & Spencer has become the latest supermarket to cull expiry dates from its own-brand dairy products, as they target tackling food and drink waste. The premium retailer will replace the seemingly less-important use-by dates across Select Farms British and organic fresh milk as of this week.
It is thought that a combination of improved shelf life and better quality product will mean that customers can 'use their judgement' before throwing away milk which may still serve a purpose. The move comes in a portion of M&S' target to reduce food waste to net zero by 2040, hoping to slash it by 50 per cent over the next seven years.
They follow the suit of Morrisons, who swapped out use-by for best before dates on their own milk product last year. Meanwhile, the Co-Op also ditched the use by dates on own-brand yoghurts.
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The Mirror reports that milk falls as the third most wasted food and drink product across the UK, being beating slightly by potatoes and bread according to Wrap, who are a recycling charity. The average household tosses out 18 and a half pints of milk each year, which amounts to 490million pints annually, equating to a waste in excess of £300million.
Climate charity WRAP's director of collaboration and change, Catherine David, said: "The main reason is not drinking before the use-by date. By changing its British and organic fresh milk to a best-before date, M&S is instantly helping its customers save money and cut waste by giving them more time to consume the milk they buy."
"This type of change to labelling is fundamental in helping people reduce household food waste, which currently tops more than 6.6million tonnes each year across the UK."
Three years ago, WRAP launched new guidance in a bid to persuade more businesses, redistribution services and charities to look beyond the best before date. It also detailed how some products with traditional use-by dates could instead have a best-before date.
Since then, major supermarkets have heeded the advice, rolling out their own implementations on suggestions. In 2020, Morrisons culled use-by labels on yoghurts and hard cheese, while Tesco earlier this year announced that they would do the same.
Last year M&S removed best before dates on more than 300 fruit and veg lines, in a move to encourage customers to use judgement on what still has a shelf life. Asda soon after followed suit, scrapping the label on 250 fresh fruit and veg products.
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