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Morrisons scraps 'use by' date on milk in favour of sniff test

Published
2 hours ago

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Store worker holding milk Image source, MOrrisons

Supermarket Morrisons is to scrap 'use by' dates on most of its milk in
a move it says will stop millions of pints being poured down the sink.

The retailer will instead place 'best before' on 90% of its own-brand
milk and encourage customers to use a sniff test to check quality.

Recycling charity Wrap said Morrisons was the first supermarket to make
the move, which starts later this month.

Ian Goode, senior milk buyer at Morrisons, said it was a "bold step".

Milk is the third most wasted food and drink product in the UK, after
potatoes and bread, with around 490 million pints wasted every year,
according to Wrap.

It also estimates 85 million pints of milk waste may be due to
customers following 'use by' labels, despite research showing it can be
used days after the date.

Morrisons believes the move could save seven million pints of its
own-brand milk being poured away each year.

Consumer habits

'Use by' are the dates until which perishable food can be cooked and
consumed safely. 'Best before' on food is guidance for when the product
should be consumed to get the best quality, taste and texture.

Morrisons said its research showed that milk does not need to be
labelled as a perishable food. "The dates on the milk will stay the
same - it is what we are asking customers to do which is changing," the
supermarket said.

Mr Goode said: "Wasted milk means wasted effort by our farmers and
unnecessary carbon being released into the atmosphere.

"Good quality, well-kept milk has a good few days life after normal
'use by' dates - and we think it should be consumed, not tipped down
the sink.

"So we're taking a bold step today and asking customers to decide
whether their milk is still good to drink. Generations before us have
always used the sniff test - and I believe we can too."
Dairy cow Image source, Getty Images

Marcus Gover, of Wrap, said: "I am delighted that Morrisons is the
first UK supermarket to take this important step to help reduce
household food waste - it shows real leadership and we look forward to
more retailers reviewing date labels on their products and taking
action."

Morrisons has already scrapped 'use by' dates across some of its
own-brand yogurt and hard cheese ranges.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said it was alright to have 'use by' or
'best before' on milk depending on the processing and type. But there
must be clear labelling, and the dates printed on all food and drink
must be based on "robust evidence about the product concerned".

The FSA also pointed out that when dealing with food generally,
sniffing is not an appropriate safety test, especially with products
that could cause food poisoning.

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