Unfortunately, this distinction often remains unclear in the minds of consumers. The result? Tons of perfectly edible food end up in the trash every year.

Why consider abolishing the DDM?

Guillaume Garot, a member of parliament and active advocate for combating food waste, is proposing an ambitious measure: removing the best-before date for certain dry, non-perishable products such as cereals, rice, and pasta. According to him, these dates “serve no health purpose” and only serve to arouse unjustified concern among consumers.

Let’s take a simple example: salt and sugar. When properly stored, these products can be stored indefinitely without any health risks. Yet, many similar foods continue to carry a best-before date, prompting consumers to discard them unnecessarily.

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