New research from RMIT University and End Food Waste Australia reveals confusing food labels are driving Australians to throw away perfectly edible food, costing households money and contributing to the nation's food waste problem.
The study reveals clearer, more consistent date labels and storage advice with related bigger print and simple icons, could drastically reduce the amount of edible food Aussies throw away.
Each year, Australians waste 7.6 million tonnes of food, much of it still safe to eat.
The study showed poor label design and inconsistent packaging were key reasons consumers throw out food, which could cost the average household up to $2,500 annually.
Lead author of the study, RMIT's Associate Professor Lukas Parker, said shoppers don't want to waste food or money.
"Australian shoppers deserve better than this. They're being let down by labels that don't give them the information they need to make the right call," he said.
"It's time for a consistent, clear system that helps people make smarter choices, saves money and keeps good food out of the bin."
Despite consumers wanting label changes, workshops revealed hesitations from food industry stakeholders, who cited concerns around cost, compliance and regulatory complexity.
The gap between consumer needs and system readiness was also identified as a major barrier to progress.
End Food Waste Australia CEO Tristan Butt said cutting food waste through smarter labels will only happen if government, retailers and food producers work together.
"Clear, consistent date labelling is one of the most cost-effective and scalable ways to reduce household food waste, but it won't happen without industry-wide collaboration," he said.
"This single change could prevent nearly a million tonnes of food waste by 2030.
"The UK's retail sector has already proven this change is possible, without compromising food safety. It's time we did the same."
The next phase of the National Date Labelling and Storage Advice Project will bring together supermarkets, food brands and government to co-design, test and roll out a national framework for date labelling and storage advice.
Date Labelling and Storage Advice Collective Intelligence Workshops: Position Paper, co-authored by Lukas Parker, Linda Brennan, Simon Lockrey, Bruno Schivinski, Brian Rodrigo Llagas, Eva L Jenkins and Nhat Tram Phan-Le, is published by RMIT University and End Food Waste Australia. While this report was intended for industry use, elements of the research project will be submitted to peer-reviewed publications later ths year.
