The Problem
Arbitrary "Best Before" Dates: Current "best before" and "consume by" labels on food products are very conservative, leading to a tremendous amount of food waste as consumers prematurely discard perfectly edible food.
Significant Financial Loss: This practice results in billions of dollars of wasted food globally, a substantial financial burden on consumers.
Potential Solutions
Smart Packaging to Detect Spoilage: Researchers at McMaster University are developing innovative technologies that can accurately identify food spoilage, including:
Sentinel Wrap: Detects spoilage and visibly changes.
Hand-held tests: Provide immediate results for retailers.
Lab-on-a-package: A self-activating test on packaging.
Sprayable gel: Contains beneficial bacteriophages to fight harmful bacteria.
Challenges
Cost and Industry Adoption: While the cost of adding smart technology to packaging is estimated to be minimal, the biggest hurdle is convincing food manufacturers to make the change amidst rising prices.
Key Takeaways
"Best before" dates are often misleading and contribute significantly to food waste.
New technologies could accurately signal spoilage and reduce waste, saving consumers money.
The food industry needs to prioritize solutions addressing food waste, even if that means a slight increase in initial prices.
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