Morrisons is scrapping the use-by dates on most of its milk. This will stop pints of milk from being poured down the sink. Instead, the supermarket giant is preferring the sniff test.
Use sniff test over the use-by date
The retail giant Morrisons is going to place a best before date on 90 percent of its brand milk products. The firm wants to start encouraging its customers to use the sniff test as a way to check the quality. Milk is the third most wasted drink and food product in the UK. (chiringa.com) The diary product follows behind bread and potatoes with over 490 million pints going to waste every year. According to reports, about 85 million pints of milk goes to waste due to customers following the use-by dates. However, research shows that milk is good for use even days after the use-by date. According to Warp, the recycling charity Morrissons is the first supermarket chain to make this move.
The use-by date is the date until when perishable food can be safely consumed. However, the best before date is the deadline for consuming products at their best taste, texture, and quality. According to Morrisons’ research, there is no need to label milk as perishable food. “The dates on the milk will stay the same – it is what we are asking customers to do which is changing,” stated Morrisons.
“Wasted milk means wasted effort by our farmers and unnecessary carbon being released into the atmosphere. Good quality, well-kept milk has a good few days life after normal ‘use by’ dates – and we think it should be consumed, not tipped down the sink,” stated Ian Goode. Goode is a senior milk buyer and believes this is a ‘bold step’. “So we’re taking a bold step today and asking customers to decide whether their milk is still good to drink. Generations before us have always used the sniff test – and I believe we can too,” he added.
Consumer habits need to change
A change in consumer habits can help in reducing food and drink wastage in the UK and even globally. Previously, Morrisons scrapped use-by dates on some of its own-brand hard cheese and yogurt ranges. “I am delighted that Morrisons is the first UK supermarket to take this important step to help reduce household food waste – it shows real leadership and we look forward to more retailers reviewing date labels on their products and taking action,” stated Marcus Grover from Wrap.
Additionally, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), it was okay to have a best before or use-by date on milk. However, it depends on the type of milk and its processing methods. “But there must be clear labeling, and the dates printed on all food and drink must be based on robust evidence about the product concerned,” stated the FSA. The organization also believes sniff test is not appropriate to test with foods that may cause food poisoning.
