Co-op selling out-of-date food for just 10p

Initiative by Co-op aims to demonstrate that items past their best should still be edible

Shoppers at 125 branches of the East of England Co-op will from today be able to pick up a range of out-ofdate products for just 10p each after the supermarket chain decided to show that items past their best, including in tins, can still be edible. The move aims to help reduce food waste.

A SUPERMARKET chain is to start selling food that is up to a month beyond its “best before” date, in an attempt to reduce waste.

From today, shoppers at East of England Co-op’s 125 stores will be able to buy a range of out-of-date products for just 10p.

It will include a large range of items including tinned goods, such as fruit and beans; dried food, such as pasta and rice; and packet goods, including crisps, confectionery and cereal.

The scheme does not include any products with a “use by” date, such as meat, fish and dairy.

It is the first time a major UK food retailer has begun selling food outside its “best before” date and it is thought others might follow.

It is also hoped the scheme might help educate consumers as to the different definitions of the confusing food safety labels.

Food waste has become a major issue, with the Government estimating that around £16billion worth of produce – equivalent to £700 for every household in the UK – is thrown away each year. While a large amount of waste includes perishable items that are no longer safe for human consumption, it is thought the confusing labelling system means a huge amount of perfectly edible food goes in the bin.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that products past their best before date are safe to consume but may not be of the optimum quality.

Under the current rules, charities are not allowed to accept food after its best before date has expired, which means that much of it has to be thrown away.

East of England Co-op has estimated that the initiative could save around two million tonnes of food from being

‘This is not a moneymaking exercise, but a sensible move to reduce waste and keep edible food in the food chain’

wasted at its stores each year.

The company decided to launch the initiative after a successful threemonth trial in 14 of its branches, where 10p items sold out very quickly, thus reducing food waste.

Roger Grosvenor, one of East of England Co-op’s joint chief executives, said: “This is not a moneymaking exercise, but a sensible move to reduce food waste and keep edible food in the food chain. By selling perfectly edible food, we can save 50,000 plus items every year that would otherwise have gone to waste. During our trial we found 10p items went within hours of being reduced, sometimes quicker. The majority of customers understand they are fine to eat.”

Oli Watts, head of communications at East of England Co-op, said: “We want our members and customers to enjoy their food, confident in the knowledge that products past their ‘best before’ date are safe to eat and that they are contributing towards reducing unnecessary food waste.”

Wrap, the food waste charity, also welcomed the initiative. A spokesman said: “We have been calling on everyone to unite in the food waste fight, and this latest development by Co-op is an interesting and bold move.

“Whilst ‘use by’ date labels indicate when a product is safe to eat, ‘best before’ date labels only refer to when food is at its best.

“As such, it is perfectly safe to sell food at or after its ‘best before’ date. Providing that the discounted items are not damaged in any way, this promotion is compliant with the latest guidelines produced by Wrap, Defra and the FSA on date labels and food redistribution. We look forward to seeing the results of this promotion, and hope it means less cost for people and less waste.”

Mr Watts added: “We all have a responsibility to consider the impact we make on the environment, so the more retailers can do to reduce food waste the better.”