An extensive survey conducted in Portugal reveals that a significant number of people do not rely on their senses to determine if a product is still fit for consumption. Over half of the respondents (61%) find product labeling regarding expiration dates to be confusing or insufficient, often leading to the disposal of food that might still be good to eat.
The study, released today by the company “Too Good to Go,” was based on a representative survey of 2,000 individuals in Portugal.
The findings indicate that “63% of Portuguese people admit to relying primarily on the ‘best before’ date on the label to determine if food is still safe to eat, ignoring other important indicators such as smell, appearance, or taste,” stated the company’s press release.
The release further elaborates: “This excessive dependence on printed dates results in food waste that could potentially still be safely consumed, which contributes to a frequently avoidable issue.”
“Too Good to Go” highlights that 38% of Portuguese citizens might be discarding perfectly edible food, largely due to misunderstandings of expiration date labels.
The company, which aims to combat food wastage, underscores that this remains a “pressing challenge” in Portugal because of its environmental and social impacts as well as its strain on family budgets.
Available data suggests that annually, approximately 184 kilograms of food per person are wasted in Portugal. According to the European Commission, around 10% of food waste in the European Union is linked to misinterpretations of expiration dates. Consequently, the company suggests that about 18 kilograms of food per person might be wasted each year in Portugal due to ongoing confusion over date labeling.
The survey also reveals that 30% of people admitted not fully understanding the meaning of the “Best Before” date. This confusion is more pronounced among younger people, with one in three consumers aged 18 to 34 finding it challenging to interpret these dates.
To mitigate such confusion, the company has run the “Observe, Smell, Taste” campaign since 2021, using a label on food packaging to remind consumers that even after the expiration date, the product might still be in good condition if it retains a good appearance, smell, and taste.
Globally, over 2.5 billion tonnes of food are wasted annually, equating to 40% of worldwide food production.
“Too Good to Go” operates by connecting users with partner stores via an app to save unsold food and prevent it from being wasted.
With more than 100 million registered users and 175,000 active partners across 19 countries in Europe, North America, and Australia, the company has successfully saved over 400 million meals since its inception in 2016, which is equivalent to preventing over a million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
The app has been available in Portugal since October 2019 and boasts over two million users and more than 4,000 associated establishments.
The study’s release coincided with Earth Day, celebrated today to raise awareness about the planet’s importance and the urgent need to preserve natural resources.
This year, the United Nations challenges citizens, businesses, and governments to collaborate in increasing renewable energy usage, with a goal to triple global electricity production from clean sources by 2030.
