Food Protection Trends - July/August 2023 - 356

FUTURE RESEARCH PATHS
Future research on the implications of " best before "
dates on household food waste in Canada should focus on
several key areas to improve our understanding of the issue
and inform effective policy solutions. One area is consumer
behavior and decision-making; more research is needed to
understand consumer perceptions and behaviors around
" best before " dates and how these impact food waste in
the household. This could include surveys, interviews, and
observational studies. Another area is the impact of labeling;
different types of food labeling, including " best before "
dates, " use by " dates, and others, on consumer behavior and
household food waste should be examined. More research is
needed on food safety and food waste issues; investigation
of the relationship between consumer beliefs about food
safety and household food waste could also focus on how
these beliefs are shaped by " best before " dates. Future studies
should encompass industry practices around " best before "
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dates, including the role of manufacturers, retailers, and
distributors in shaping consumer behavior and reducing food
waste. International comparisons would also be helpful, to
examine the impact of " best before " dates and food waste in
Canada and in other countries, including the use of different
labeling systems and food waste reduction strategies. Finally,
there should be long-term evaluations of how labels impact
food waste, especially long-term evaluation of the impact of
policy interventions aimed at reducing household food waste
through better management of " best before " dates, including
the effectiveness of educational campaigns and labeling
requirements.
By conducting this type of research, we can gain a deeper
understanding of the factors that contribute to household
food waste in Canada and identify effective strategies for
reducing waste through improved management of " best
before " dates.
356 Food Protection Trends July/August

Food Protection Trends - July/August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - July/August 2023