Australian study finds that confusing labels are driving food waste

The study found that clearer, more consistent date labels and storage advice – along with bigger print and the use of simple icons – could drastically reduce the amount of edible food people throw away. Each year, Australians waste 7.6-million tonnes of food, much of it still safe to eat. 

According to the research team, poor label design and inconsistent packaging were key reasons consumers throw out food, which could cost the average household up to US$1,600 annually. 

“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,” says lead author of the study and RMIT Associate Professor, Lukas Parker. 

“It’s time for a consistent, clear system that helps people make smarter choices, saves money and keeps good food out of the [rubbish] bin.” 

Food industry is hesitant 

Despite consumers wanting label changes, workshops with food industry stakeholders revealed hesitancy due to 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, believes 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 says. 

“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 research is titled ‘Date Labelling and Storage Advice Collective Intelligence Workshops: Position Paper’ and is primarily intended for industry use. However, elements of the research project will be submitted to peer-reviewed publications later this year. 

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. The project is a collaboration between RMIT University and End Food Waste Australia.