Asda axes best-before dates on hundreds of lines

Asda followed in the footsteps of food retailers ranging from Tesco to Marks & Spencer and Waitrose, which have all removed best-before dates from various products. Earlier this year Morrisons also removed them from own-brand fresh milk.

Asda will abandon best-before dates on 250 products such as citrus fruits, potatoes, cauliflowers and carrots, from September 1.

Asda cited research from climate action group WRAP, which showed the average family throws away £60 worth of food and drink every month – partly because products may have reached their expiry date but are still edible.

Asda IPL head of technical Andy Cockshaw 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.”

WRAP director of collaboration and change Catherine David said: “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. 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. More supermarkets need to get ahead on food waste by axing date labels from fresh produce, allowing people to use their own judgement.”

In the UK, food waste is responsible for an estimated 36 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year, according to WRAP.