Too Good to Go warns that 38% of Portuguese may be discarding food in good condition.
The combat against the food waste, But this habit continues to be frequent in Portugal: per year, each person puts 184 kg of food in the trash.
A new study by Too Good to Go reveals that more than a third (38%) Of the Portuguese may be putting food in good condition in the trash.
There is a main reason related to this food waste: the confusion with the labeling of validity datesmisinterpretation of validity dates.
The greatest confusion in dates is the interpretation of the meaning of the date of minimal durability – that is, the part of “Consume preferably before”.
30% of the Portuguese admit not knowing how to interpret what this date really means – and it is in these cases that, often, food that is still in good condition is often discarded.
That is, most Portuguese (63%) puts the product in the trash if the date indicated on the label has passed. It does not smell, do not observe the food, does not try. It is the date that defines this decision.
Interestingly, they are the most young people that align more to this excessive dependence of the printed date. People over 55 hits more.
10% of food waste in Europe is related to the misinterpretation of the expiration terms, according to data from the European Commission.
That is, in Portugal, it means that there is annually 18 kg of good food that each of us puts in the trash.
In a statement sent to ZAP, Too Good to Go warns that this is a waste of food that could continue to be consumed safely; This is a preventable problem, often.
Explanations
Looking at the ASAE – Food and Economic Security Authority definitions, we recall that the date of validity (“Consume until”) Indicates the deadline until the food can be consumed safely.
It is an indication used mainly in very perishable products from the microbiological point of view: fresh meat or fish – which, After this date, they can be a health risk.
But what is often concerned is the date of minimal durability (“Consume preferably before”). This is different here: it is the period during which food maintains its specific properties, as long as it is stored correctly.
After that date, the Product can also be consumedas long as it maintains a good look, smell and taste, without questioning the health of the consumer.
