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Food waste, date labels, and risk preferences: An experimental exploration

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  • Norbert Lance Weston Wilson
  • Ruiqing Miao

Abstract

This study provides theoretical and experimental evidence that consumers adjust their premeditated food waste by date labels and their risk and loss preferences. The “Use by” date label leads to more premeditated food waste than “Best by” for deli meat and spaghetti sauce. However, changing date labels may not lower premeditated food waste relative to no label at all. Greater loss aversion correlates with higher premeditated food waste regardless of date labels and products. For participants with high loss aversion, they have higher premediated waste with no statistical difference in response for “Best by” and “Use by” labels. These results highlight the heterogeneous response to date labels.

Suggested Citation

  • Norbert Lance Weston Wilson & Ruiqing Miao, 2025. "Food waste, date labels, and risk preferences: An experimental exploration," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 47(3), pages 1029-1057, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:apecpp:v:47:y:2025:i:3:p:1029-1057
    DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13507
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    Cited by:

    1. Cheng, Shujun & Cheng, Liang & Ren, Yanjun & Zhao, Minjuan, 2026. "Do consumer cognition and dependence on food date labels contribute to reducing food waste? Evidence from urban China," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 27, pages 1-11.

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