News Japanese companies extend food expiration dates to combat waste

Japanese food manufacturers are increasingly taking steps to reduce food waste by extending expiration and best-before dates on processed foods. A recent survey by the Consumer Affairs Agency found that 43% of the 935 products examined had longer shelf lives. While large and medium-sized companies have been proactive in implementing these changes, smaller businesses have slowly adopted the practice. Many small enterprises cite challenges in maintaining consistent product quality and managing additional costs as obstacles to extending expiration dates.

The survey covered 112 items with expiration dates and 823 with best-before dates. It showed respondents had no plan to extend these dates for 33 per cent of the products, while indicating interest in doing so for 23 per cent but citing challenges in maintaining quality and safety in different seasons and according to consumer handling, among other factors. By company size, 53 per cent of small businesses reported no plans to extend expiration dates, compared with 29 per cent of small- to medium-sized firms and 15 per cent of large companies.

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It must be noted that "expiration dates" on products are usually "best before" dates.