Confusing Food Labels Costing Average Australian Household $2,500 a Year: Study

Food waste costs Australia $36.6 billion a year, with households responsible for nearly 30 percent—around 2.5 million tonnes.

A woman grabs a bottle of milk in a supermarket in Perth, Western Australia, on March 16, 2024. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times

Australians are discarding vast quantities of edible food due to vague and inconsistent packaging, costing households up to $2,500 a year, according to new research.

A joint study by RMIT University and End Food Waste Australia has highlighted how unclear labelling—particularly around expiry dates and storage guidance—is driving unnecessary food waste.