Lidl GB scraps 'Use By' labels for own brand milk and yoghurt

Lidl GB has revealed significant modifications to the labelling of its yogurt and fresh milk selections, a strategic decision aimed at empowering customers to curtail food waste within their households.

In a departure from the conventional 'Use By' dates, Lidl has opted for 'Best Before' labels, extending this alteration to its primary dairy product offerings. This adjustment aligns with a broader industry trend among retailers, as it seeks to curtail the inadvertent discarding of entirely consumable food items.

The updated packaging for Lidl's milk range has commenced its introduction to stores throughout England and Wales. For yogurts, customers can anticipate encountering this alteration starting early 2024.

Lidl emphasises that milk and yogurt, when stored appropriately and exhibiting no signs of spoilage such as a foul odour or unusual consistency, remain safe for consumption. The retailer encourages customers to exercise discernment, relying on the 'Best Before' dates as a guide to inform consumption decisions.

Richard Inglis, Head of Buying at Lidl GB, said: At Lidl, we know that a lot of perfectly good milk and yoghurt is being thrown away because of ‘Use By’ dates. It therefore makes total sense to us to make the switch to ‘Best Before’ so that shoppers can use their own judgement on whether their milk or yoghurt is good to consume. We’ve got a long record of making positive change to reduce food waste, and this latest step builds on our commitment to helping households tackle food waste at home.

This announcement complements Lidl's pre-existing measures to address food waste, including in-store initiatives such as the 'Too Good to Waste' boxes. These boxes, part of Lidl's commitment to waste reduction, contribute to a yearly decrease of 17,000 tonnes in food waste. By offering 5kg of surplus fruits and vegetables at a cost of only £1.50, the initiative aligns with Lidl's broader sustainability goals.