In a city that imports over 90% of its food, a widespread misunderstanding of the dates printed on packaging is leading to edible food being thrown away in vast quantities, exacerbating both food waste and food insecurity, according to a new report from Feeding Hong Kong.
The charity’s study, “Best Before AND Beyond,” released in October 2025, reveals that consumer confusion over “Best Before” and “Use By” labels is a significant driver of household food waste and a barrier to redistributing surplus food to those in need. The findings are based on separate consumer surveys conducted by YouGov and Hong Kong University, as well as the charity’s own annual survey of its frontline partners.
The Core Confusion: Quality vs. Safety
In Hong Kong, pre-packaged foods are required to carry one of two date labels. A “Best Before” date indicates when a product is expected to be at its peak quality, but it is generally safe to consume afterward. A “Use By” or “Expiry” date, however, relates to safety and marks the last date a product should be consumed.
The research indicates this distinction is lost on a large portion of the population. The YouGov poll of 1,010 residents found that 25% either believe food is unsafe after its “Best Before” date or are unsure, leading to perfectly edible items being discarded.
Conversely, a concerning 32% of consumers do not fully understand that food past its “Use By” date is unsafe to eat, highlighting a dual problem of unnecessary waste and potential health risks.
Good Food in the Bin
This confusion has tangible consequences for what ends up in Hong Kong’s landfills. The report identifies the most commonly wasted foods once they hit their “Best Before” date as fruits and vegetables (59%), milk (54%), and bakery items like bread (53%).
Perhaps more surprisingly, non-perishable staples are also frequently thrown away. Twenty-seven percent of consumers listed canned goods among their top three most discarded items, and 24% listed packaged staples like rice, pasta, and noodles—foods that are often safe to eat for months or even years past their “Best Before” date.
“We are unnecessarily throwing away good food,” the report states, noting that nearly 3,200 tonnes of food are sent to landfills daily in Hong Kong, with households responsible for 63% of that waste.
A Ripple Effect on Food Aid
The misunderstanding doesn’t stop at household doors; it also impacts the charitable food network. Feeding Hong Kong’s survey of 153 frontline charities found that 12% believe food is unsafe to eat after its “Best Before” date, and 18% immediately discard such food.
Furthermore, 74% of these charity partners were not fully confident in their understanding of date labels. This suggests that valuable, nutritious surplus food that could be feeding vulnerable populations is being withheld or wasted due to a knowledge gap.
This occurs while 1.39 million people in Hong Kong live in poverty, underscoring a missed opportunity to bridge the gap between surplus and need.
A Public Ready for Change
Despite the confusion, the report strikes an optimistic note, revealing a strong public appetite for positive action. A Hong Kong University survey found that 67% of consumers freeze leftovers to avoid waste, and 64% use meal planning and shopping lists. Half of the respondents agreed that standardizing date labels would help reduce food waste.
“The fight against food waste is a powerful catalyst for change for many consumers,” the report notes, with 78% of those who use food past its “Best Before” date citing waste avoidance as their primary motivation.
Recommendations: Educate and Empower
To tackle the issue, Feeding Hong Kong is launching a public education campaign under the banner “Best Before AND Beyond.” The key message is simple: “Most food beyond its ‘Best Before’ date is still perfectly safe to eat. Does it look, smell and taste OK? Use your senses to reduce food waste and save money.”
The campaign, which includes an MTR poster campaign across 88 stations, encourages practical steps like “FEFO” (First to Expire, First Out), proper freezing techniques, and better storage habits to prolong food life.
By clarifying the meaning behind the labels, the initiative aims to empower consumers to make smarter choices, reduce the environmental burden of food waste, and unlock more surplus food for Hong Kong’s most vulnerable communities.
Report Source: “Best Before AND Beyond” October 2025, Feeding Hong Kong