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Australians unsure about food expiry labelling

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22 Sep, 2024

This post was originally published on Sustainability Matters

Recent research has revealed that many Australians are unnecessarily throwing away food due to not clearly understanding the meaning of food date labels and storage advice. Each year, about one-third of all food in Australia is either lost or discarded.

The study’s lead author, Associate Professor Lukas Parker from RMIT University, said date labels were widely misunderstood by Australians because they were confusing.

“Consumers want clear, consistent and easy-to-read information,” he said.

“Date labels should be in a large font with contrasting colours so that they are easy to find and interpret.”

Use-by dates show the last day a product is safe to eat, while best-before dates show peak quality. Food should be safe past the best-before date if not damaged, deteriorated or perished.

The study showed that while many of the 125 consumers interviewed understood the difference between use-by and best-before dates, they often discarded food when it reached either date.

Older and retired Australians were less likely to worry about date labels, while young families were more likely to throw away food once past its best-before or use-by date.

The study found advice such as ‘store in a cool, dry place’ was interpreted as vague and unhelpful.

Parker said a solution could be labels with practical tips on properly storing food and sealing packaging. “Including specific temperature guidelines for storage on packaging would help,” he said.

“Particularly in a cost-of-living crisis, people need information on how to properly store and prolong the shelf life of food.”

Parker also recommended that people use their own senses to test the freshness of food, rather than over-relying on printed best-before dates.

“We need people to feel, touch and smell food, not just rely on its best-before date,” he said. “Fresh produce often doesn’t have date labels and we manage just fine, yet products like salt are often needlessly sold with best-before dates.”

Parker said that buying to eat, rather than to store, was a simple way for consumers to reduce food waste and save money. “Smaller, more frequent shops is a simple way to reduce your food waste,” he said.

“Having less food in our fridges and pantries means we’re more likely to use products quickly and throw less away.

“We all need to recognise that we waste food. Focus on what you do and what you can do next to reduce it.”

The research was conducted for End Food Waste Australia, a national organisation dedicated to improving the Australian food system’s productivity, resilience and sustainability. Parker and the team are working through the results of this latest study with government and industry representatives.

The report, published by RMIT University and the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, can be read here.

Image credit: iStock.com/JackF

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Planning approval for B2B green hydrogen facility

Planning approval for B2B green hydrogen facility

Planning approval has been granted for Energys’ green hydrogen production facility in Hastings, Victoria, after 18 months of dedicated engagement with the Victorian planning system.

This project represents a significant step forward in Australia’s energy transition. The commercially focused green hydrogen B2B industrial supply initiative is aimed at displacing grey hydrogen currently produced from natural gas.

At the core of the facility will be a 1 MW proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser, powered by grid electricity during periods of surplus renewable generation and low wholesale energy prices.

Under a strategic agreement, Coregas — an Australian producer of liquid hydrogen — will operate the site and manage all downstream logistics including compression, liquefaction, cylinder and trailer filling, and distribution to end users. Hydrogen produced at the Hastings facility will be marketed and sold under commercial terms through Coregas to a growing base of industrial and mobility customers.

“This project positions Victoria at the forefront of green hydrogen innovation,” said Roger Knight, CEO of Energys. “By displacing emissions-intensive grey hydrogen with a zero-carbon alternative, we are making a tangible contribution to decarbonising key sectors such as industrial gas, transport and stationary energy.”

Green hydrogen supplied from this site will reduce emissions in the stationary power along with road and marine transport markets through the displacement of diesel.

Energys’ core activity is the manufacture of hydrogen fuel cell power systems and this project will supply green hydrogen to the Victorian market including the company’s customer base.

The project’s operating model leverages grid flexibility, utilising electricity during periods of excess supply, which aligns with broader energy market goals of enhancing system stability and integrating renewable energy.

This development reinforces the company’s commitment to advancing practical, scalable clean energy solutions that support Australia’s net-zero ambitions and foster a low-emissions future.

Energys received support from the Victorian Government through The Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund (CPF).

Image caption: 3D render of the Hastings facility. Image: Supplied

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