Morrisons - to think this might backfire?

[Magicpaintbrush]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59928650
Morrisons are planning to remove the 'use by' date on their milk to prevent food waste, the idea being that people sniff it before they use it instead. I think reducing food waste is brilliant but ... AIBU to think that quite a lot of people will chuck milk out even sooner without 'use by' guidance as they won't know if it's still ok to use. And if, as the article suggests, milk is often fine for a few days after the use by date, why don't they just extend the use by date instead then ? I also think it will lead some people to chuck it on the 'best before' date if that's the only date on the label, thus wasting even more. I don't personally think I would trust a sniff test, I wouldn't feel confident about it. I think this new policy might lead to more waste not less, and would put me off buying it. Or is it just me?

They’re keeping the best before date so some people will still chuck it once it surpasses that date. I don’t really get the point.

@Sirzy

I think we need to move back to more of this type of thinking. We have got to used to someone sticking a date on something which is only ever a rough guide.

I agree. The number of threads on here by people who are afraid to use perfectly good food because the use by date is the day before is bonkers.

Do supermarkets ever have to get rid of milk that gone past the sell by date?

They'd have to get their ordering spectalarly wrong or have some kind of unforseen catastrophe for that to happen wouldn't they? I buy a lot of milk and never see any that's anywhere near the sell by date. Semi simmed milk can easily have a date 10 days ahead, if for some reason the milk wasnt selling the supermarket wouldn't get any more. It's all done by computer surely.

One of the reasons people on this thread may be finding their milk goes off before the date is because many people keep milk in the door, which is the warmest part of the fridge. If you keep it in the main part it lasts longer.

I watched David Attenborough green planet tonight and I am seriously thinking about over consumption. If you have food in your cupboards going off you are over consuming.

Also if you believe use by dates you have de-evolved

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair

Do supermarkets ever have to get rid of milk that gone past the sell by date?

They'd have to get their ordering spectalarly wrong or have some kind of unforseen catastrophe for that to happen wouldn't they? I buy a lot of milk and never see any that's anywhere near the sell by date. Semi simmed milk can easily have a date 10 days ahead, if for some reason the milk wasnt selling the supermarket wouldn't get any more. It's all done by computer surely.

From what I can gather from a friend who works at one it's donated to charity, but it's reduced to sell before that. I have occasionally seen a reduced sticker on milk when it's coming up to the date.

I've never understood the point of a best before date. Use by, I see the point, but who determines when a food is subjectively at its best? Maybe I like it drier. They need to add a big old GOES OFF BY date on everything with instructions on packets to check for mould, smell etc and do a 'withered food' campaign in the same way they've made wonky veg trendy.

I always ignore the dates on milk - it's ususally fine for a few days after whatever is on the bottle if it's kept in the fridge.
If you're using it in tea, it wither goes gloopy or snowflakey when it hits the hot water.

@Headteacher415

Just to be cynical, how much milk do they dispose of when it's reached its use by date which is now saleable without a label? And how do you know how old the milk is ... surely some will slip through the net and linger in a fridge/warehouse in the supply chain?

Surely they'll just use the best before date which is now going to be printed on the bottle?

There's also a 'Display until' on some foods. Eggs I think is one. What's that all about?

The "best before" date will be the old "use by date". This is a hilarious non-story.

Terrible idea. Will lead to more waste.

we buy and use milk every 2 days so will never be an issue

And if it goes lumpy make cheese...

Delicious when you know how.

Think its just you.....in the days before use by and best before dates we sniffed and no one died from the lack of dates.

Can anyone please explain how changing two words on a label is going to lead to milk going off and more waste?

@DerAlteMann

Must admit I've never looked at a "use by" date on milk in my life. Always work on the basis that if it stinks - it's off. Otherwise it's OK.

Completely agree

I'm the designated milk sniffer in my household.

Sometimes I fib a little bit, if the milk is just about to turn, but no one's come to harm yet.

I would need the date - I can’t smell anything - long term not covid related so it’s not idea

Ideal int idea

It's amazing how many people read the opening post without clicking on the actual news report to read it for themselves. No wonder we're in the mess we're in.

@Rummikub - this is my preferred method of testing too - also, coffee!

I have never checked the date on milk. We go through milk quickly anyway and doesn't milk stink if it's gone off?

Milk that curdles in my morning tea is off. This wouldn't bother me.

If you can’t smell anything this doesn’t seem to work very well