Marks & Spencer will be removing the best before dates on 300 of their fruit and vegetable products.
The supermarket chain announced it will be taking the preventive measure in a bid to tackle food waste. The change, expected this week, will mean consumers will have to rely on their gut instincts to tell what products are still at their best. Competitors such as Tesco and Co-op have already scrapped their best before dates on fruit and vegetable products several years ago.
The M&S switch-up will see around 85% of their products affected in a bid to "tackle the mountain of waste from perfectly good food." Waste & Resources Action Programme (Wrap) said 70% of the UK's food waste is binned in homes, mounting up to 4.5 million tonnes of edible food a year.
READ MORE: Supermarket sends message to all customers who buy milk
Catherine David, director of collaboration and change at the charity, added: "We urge more supermarkets to get ahead on food waste by axing date labels from fresh produce, allowing people to use their own judgment."
Best before dates are used to give consumers an idea of the best taste and flavour a product can offer and usually have no bearings on whether or not the item has moved to an inedible stage Use by dates, however, inform shoppers of the last possible period they have to use the product by.
READ NEXT
Doctor issues warning over 'unusual' symptoms you shouldn't ignore in extreme heat
Paddy McGuinness pleads with Jamie Redknapp for help with kids
Message to Tesco, Asda, BP, Shell and Texaco customers filling up fuel in two weeks
Emmerdale's Isabel Hodgins swoons as she enjoys relaxing day with 'my love' co-star
Busted star Charlie Simpson’s warning after son suffers secondary drowning
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
