M&S has now removed best before dates from fresh produce packaging in a bid to tackle food waste, both in store and in UK households.
After research from sustainability charity WRAP has shown that an estimated 6.6 million tonnes of food is thrown away by UK households every year, the supermarket retailer has announced that best before dates will be removed from the labelling of over 300 fruit and vegetable products – which accounts for 85% of its fresh produce offering.
This will include on commonly-wasted items like apples, potatoes, broccoli, and so much more.
Best before dates will now be replaced with a new code, which M&S staff will use to “ensure freshness and quality is maintained”.
The retailer says the change to packaging – which is being rolled out across all M&S stores in the UK from this week – is designed to “encourage customers to throw away less edible food at home” and urges people to “use their judgement”.
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The removal of best before dates is part of M&S’s pledge to halve food waste by 2030 – with 100% of edible surplus to be redistributed by 2025.
Cutting best before dates is one of several other steps the retailer is taking to reduce food waste, including having partnered with charity Neighbourly back in 2015 and donating over 44 million meals, which store teams work closely with local communities to ensure edible food surplus is redistributed, and launching the ‘Sparking Change’ challenge nationwide, which encourages customers to reduce food waste recipes using leftovers, as well as expert tips on batch cooking and storing food to make it last longer.
M&S has now removed best before dates from fresh produce packaging in a bid to tackle food waste / Credit: M&S
“We’re determined to tackle food waste,” said Andrew Clappen, Director of Food Technology at M&S.
“Our teams and suppliers work hard to deliver fresh, delicious, responsibly sourced produce at great value and we need to do all we can to make sure none of it gets thrown away [but] to do that, we need to be innovative and ambitious.
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“Removing best before dates where safe to do so, trialling new ways to sell our products, and galvanising our customers to get creative with leftovers and embrace change.”
He insisted that the retailer is aiming for its target of halving food waste, and will keep searching for solutions while still maintaining “the standards and value our customers expect.”
The retailer says the change is designed to “encourage customers to throw away less edible food at home” / Credit: M&S
WRAP says it’s “thrilled” that M&S is taking steps to reduce food waste.
“Removing dates on fresh fruit and veg can save the equivalent of seven million shopping baskets of food being binned in our homes,” added Catherine David, Director of Collaboration and Change at WRAP.
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“We urge more supermarkets to get ahead on food waste by axing date labels from fresh produce, allowing people to use their own judgement.”
Featured Image – M&S
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New survey finds most drivers can’t complete a car journey without using their mobile
Emily Sergeant
A shocking new report has revealed that most Brits are unable to complete a car journey without using their mobile behind the wheel.
After shocking images taken with an AI camera of drivers using mobiles and not wearing seatbelts on the roads across Greater Manchester were released to the public last November, a new report has now shed some more light on drivers’ excessive phone use while on the roads, proving that they’re the ultimate distraction.
In fact, nine out of 10 drivers struggle to complete a journey without being distracted by their phones, according a recent report from IMS and the RAC.
The research – which is based on survey results from 500,000 drivers over the past year, originally shared exclusively with This is Money – shows that only 10% of motorists manage to drive from start to finish without interacting with their mobile device.
And this is despite the risk of consequences such as £200 fines and six penalty points on their license, if caught.
A new survey has fount that most drivers can’t complete a car journey without using their mobile at some point / Credit: Geograph | Vincent Wachowiak (via Unsplash)
As mentioned, it’s also despite the increasing use of advanced artificial intelligence roadside cameras to detect ‘distracted drivers’ and their illegal mobile phone use.
Government data showed that mobile phone use was a contributing factor in 23 road fatalities last year alone, and official statistics also show that ‘distraction or impairment’ was the third most-common cause of fatal crashes, having played a role in 34.9% of deadly incidents.
The RAC is now encouraging police forces across the UK to start taking immediate action.
“We saw a reduction in motorists admitting to illegal handheld phone use after the penalties were toughened in 2017 following pressure from the RAC, but numbers are on the rise again now,” explained RAC road safety spokesperson, Rod Dennis
“In fact, our research shows the proportion of young drivers making and receiving calls illegally hit its highest rate in eight years in 2024.
“Enforcement of the law is critical, so we encourage police forces to roll out more roadside cameras to catch people in the act and get them to change their ways.”
Featured Image – Rahul Himkar (via Unsplash)
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Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.
Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.
However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.
In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”
Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.
Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.
For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.
Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”
However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.
With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.
Emily Sergeant -
25th July 2022 
