Sniff, Look, Taste: using our senses to cut food waste
29 September 2026
Confusion over date labels is sending good food to the bin in homes across Australia.
A new pilot from Nestlé which has been informed by research and experience by OzHarvest, aims to change that by taking the confusion out of dates labels and encouraging people to trust their senses before throwing food away with a Best Before date.
The pilot addresses a common misunderstanding. A Use By date relates to food safety and should always be followed, even if the food looks and smells fine. A Best Before date relates to quality. After that date, food may lose some flavour or texture, but many products are still perfectly good to eat if they have been stored correctly and show no signs of spoilage.
The Sniff, Look, Taste pilot is appearing on selected packs of MAGGI 2 Minute Noodles, including the Sweet Chilli & Sour Cream and Smokey Barbecue varieties.
The on-pack message encourages people to check the date label first. If a product has passed its Best Before date, they can then sniff, look, and taste and in conjunction with the advice of the Best Before date, and make a decision on whether to keep it.
“This is a simple idea: put the right message where people make the decision,” said Kirsten Grinter, Nestlé Head of Regulatory & Scientific Affairs & Nutrition. “It shows how everyday packaging and brands can help turn food waste awareness into action.”
OzHarvest research shows that 58% of households with high levels of food waste h throw items away because they are unsure of the difference between date labels.
In Australia around 7.6 million tonnes of food is wasted each year with households responsible for roughly one-third of that. the majority of that food thrown out is still good.
For the food and grocery industry, the pilot highlights how clearer labelling and better consumer understanding can help reduce avoidable household waste.
It also helps ensure the food, energy and resources that go into making products are used rather than discarded.
Small actions at home can make a meaningful difference.
