The peelable labels consumers see in supermarkets could be in for a shake-up after the government announced proposals to scrap best before dates on food products.

This information is currently required by law, but it is feared it could be confusing consumers and contributing to the £680 worth of food waste the average household produces each year, according to Waste and Resources Action Programme.

Best before dates on peelable labels indicate when a product may begin to lose its optimum flavour, but it is use by dates that tell shoppers when their health may be put at risk if they consume the product.

Anti-waste campaigners say best before dates are more useful to retailers and want them removed from packaging, something environment secretary Caroline Spelman said the government is now considering.

"If the date labels are part of the problem it's one thing we should be able to improve," she remarked.

Earlier this month, Conservative MP for East Yorkshire Greg Knight criticised food companies that mislead consumers with their packaging.

Denny Bros Ltd, 19 April 2011