Asda shoppers are scratching their heads after noticing the disappearance of best before dates on fruit and vegetables, replaced by a seemingly cryptic code. This change, aimed at reducing food waste, has left some consumers bewildered.
The supermarket giant is no longer printing easily recognizable best before dates on produce like apples, oranges, and pears, opting for a code instead. While some shoppers have successfully deciphered the code to determine the actual best before dates, many remain confused.
Reddit user u/EpicFishFingers shared their observation, noting the code consists of a letter (A-L) and a number (1-31). Other users, like u/geezso, explained that the code represents the month and date, with A corresponding to January and L representing December.
However, many were initially unaware of the code’s meaning, leading to confusion about the removal of best before dates. Some, like u/GronakHD, simply assumed that dates were no longer being used.
u/C2BK pointed out that the code is actually a stock control system rather than a best before date, arguing that best before dates are unnecessary for fruit and vegetables as they encourage food waste. They emphasized that the quality of produce can be determined visually and by touch, not just by a date.
This sentiment was echoed by other Reddit users who believe that best before dates are redundant for fresh produce, as the condition of the fruit or vegetable can be assessed directly.
Love Food Hate Waste, a campaign aimed at reducing food waste, supports Asda’s decision. They highlight their research, which shows that removing best before dates encourages people to rely on their own judgment regarding produce freshness, resulting in less food being discarded. Their study found that people are more likely to throw away produce if it has a best before date, even if it appears perfectly edible.
By removing best before dates on fresh, uncut fruit and vegetables, supermarkets like Asda aim to combat the problem of food waste. This change encourages consumers to assess the quality of produce themselves, potentially reducing the amount of perfectly good food that ends up in the bin.
