Food waste survey – how safe food with expired used by dates perceived by the public in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Food waste is a serious problem that is particularly acute in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) due to its high reliance on food imports. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contrasting public perception and possible microbiological safety of food that consumers voluntarily. This research study utilized a data collected from 272 participants from a structured online questionnaire. The survey addressed consumer awareness & knowledge of date labels ('Use By' versus 'Best Before'), food storage (fridge, freezer, cupboard) & disposal practices, risk perceptions related to food, and cultural and religious influences. The main findings of this study show that while most consumers (66.2%) check the expiry date label of foods, the confusion is staggering where 27% of respondents underestimated both 'Use By' and 'Best Before' labels as real deadlines, a situation that contributes to the overly risk averse culture of disposing of perishable foods such as raw meats (94%) and dairy (81%). Islamic principles do prohibit waste ('Israf') for 88.6% of respondents but 'interferes' with cultural practices ('Karam') of hospitality. The research finds that food waste in KSA is not caused by negligence, it is predominantly driven by a consistent misunderstanding of date labelling. Because of this significant perception gap, safe, healthy, and edible food continues to be irresponsibly wasted. Education that directly addresses the confusion about what labels mean and that use already trusted religious and social channels must take place to shift consumer misbehaviour towards the sustainability agenda established by Saudi Vision 2030.