Collaborating on Best Before Date Awareness

Canadian Food Focus is proud to partner with Love Food Hate Waste Canada on the Best Before Date Campaign, uniting two organizations committed to empowering Canadians with trustworthy, practical information about their food. This collaborative effort aims to educate Canadians about the true meaning of “best before” dates, helping to reduce avoidable food waste and advancing food literacy in communities nationwide.

Campaign Overview

The Best Before Date Campaign focuses on clarifying the difference between “best before” and “expiration” dates—a source of confusion that leads to significant household food waste. In Canada, about 23% of avoidable food waste is linked to misinterpreting best before dates, costing households an average of $1,300 annually. The campaign provides clear, accessible tools: storage guides, interactive activities, and practical tips for making food last longer and saving money while reducing environmental impact.

The Importance of Collaboration

By working alongside like-minded organizations, Canadian Food Focus is able to maximize resources, amplify outreach, and foster greater impact. Partnerships like these are essential, allowing us to share expertise, coordinate messaging, and reach more Canadians with actionable, science-based guidance. Pooling our knowledge not only stretches our budgets further but also strengthens public trust at a time when food misinformation is increasingly common.

Campaign Results

The campaign included sharing our article, What Does the Best Before Date Really Mean? on social, amplifying five webinars hosted by Love Food Hate Waste and developing and co-branding four Instagram reels which had over 100,000 views by mid-November 2025.

Links to Instagram Reels:

Instagram Posts
Understanding Best Before Dates
Food Quality and Storage Tips
Use your Senses
3 foods you can eat past their best before dates

A Call to Action

Continued partnerships are vital for engaging more consumers on a larger scale. Canadian Food Focus welcomes the support of organizations across the agri-food sector who share a vision for informed, confident food choices in Canada. Let’s work together to engage, educate and empower Canadians so they can make the most of the food they purchase, building public trust and reducing food waste for generations to come.