Ministry of Food plans to soon abolish the best before date

German Minister of Food for abolition of the BBD on food
Federal Nutrition Minister Christian Schmidt (CSU) wants to abolish the expiration date (MHD) on food. This will ensure that too many consumers throw away food that is still edible.

Reduce waste of food
Every year, millions of tons of food end up in the garbage, even though they are often still edible. Experts advise against throwing food away hastily, but often the best before date is misunderstood. In most cases, food will last longer than indicated. Since the MHD obviously entices people to dispose of food prematurely, pleaded Federal Nutrition Minister Christian Schmidt (CSU) for an abolition of this claim.

Every year, millions of tons of food are thrown away. Often also because the MHD is misunderstood. The Federal Nutrition Minister is in favor of abolishing this claim. (Image: highwaystarz / fotolia.com)

Foods are usually longer lasting
The minimum durability date (MHD) prescribed for decades under EU law should itself be given an expiry date. Critics complain that consumers often misunderstood the manufacturer and also supermarkets sort out their goods far too early. The BBD only guarantees that the color, smell and taste of the unopened food are preserved up to this day when stored properly. However, products such as rice, pasta or flour often last many months longer.

Minister for abolition of the expiry date
The German Minister of Food and Agriculture, Christian Schmidt (CSU) therefore called for a speedy abolishment of the shelf life on all food packaging. "The manufacturers have installed too much safety buffer," said the politician the newspapers of the spark media group (Saturday issues). "On the packaging of milk or ham is to be printed a real expiration date, after which these products were actually no longer edible." The Minister assume that in a few months, the draft of a corresponding EU Directive is present.

Salt or sugar does not have a BBD
With foodstuffs such as salt or sugar, which are permanently edible, there is no need for a shelf life date on the packaging, but only the date of manufacture. The information on the decay should not disappear completely. On perishables, the best before date should be further developed into qualified consumer information. Because most products are much longer usable than on the packaging stand. The future belongs to "intelligent packaging", which recognizes the condition of the goods themselves. (Ad)