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Effects of Date Labels and Freshness Indicators on Food Waste Patterns in the United States and the United Kingdom

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  • Carter Weis

    (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA)

  • Anjali Narang

    (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA)

  • Bradley Rickard

    (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
    Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, KEDGE Business School, 33000 Bordeaux, France)

  • Diogo M. Souza-Monteiro

    (School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK)

Abstract

To meet the target for Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, household food waste will need to be reduced by at least 284 million tonnes globally by 2030. American and British households waste a significant amount of food, and date labels are considered to be a contributor to this situation. Using a split-plot experimental design implemented on a survey administered to a convenience sample of UK and US consumers, we aimed to determine how different types of date labels and freshness indicators affect the stated likelihoods of discarding 15 foods. We find that not all date labels would lead to reductions in waste, and that semantics matter. Overall, the likelihood to waste across products was similar between the US and the UK; however, American consumers showed a larger response to the additional information provided by the freshness indicators. Our results shed new light on the ongoing policy debate related to national strategies for simplifying and harmonizing the use of date labels for packaged foods, as well as the potential effects from the use of freshness indicators.

Suggested Citation

  • Carter Weis & Anjali Narang & Bradley Rickard & Diogo M. Souza-Monteiro, 2021. "Effects of Date Labels and Freshness Indicators on Food Waste Patterns in the United States and the United Kingdom," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:7897-:d:594614
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brenna Ellison & Jayson L Lusk, 2018. "Examining Household Food Waste Decisions: A Vignette Approach," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(4), pages 613-631, December.
    2. Luiza Toma & Montserrat Costa Font & Bethan Thompson, 2020. "Impact of consumers’ understanding of date labelling on food waste behaviour," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 543-560, June.
    3. Buzby, Jean C. & Farah-Wells, Hodan & Hyman, Jeffrey, 2014. "The Estimated Amount, Value, and Calories of Postharvest Food Losses at the Retail and Consumer Levels in the United States," Economic Information Bulletin 164262, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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