Food Dating: Shoppers' Reactions and the Impact on Retail Foodstores

Marketing Economics Division Economic Research Service

No 313404, Marketing Research Reports from United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Transportation and Marketing Program

Abstract: Eighteen percent of 1,500 shoppers interviewed by telephone in 1971 reported purchasing food in the previous 2 weeks that became "bad" before it should have. Most problems were reported with meat, dairy products, baked goods, and fresh produce. Shoppers interviewed at selected Ohio retail chainstores before and after an 8-week experimental open-dating program were asked about their satisfaction with foods purchased. The frequency with which shoppers reported instances of purchasing "bad" food was reduced by half after open (uncoded) dates and improved handling practices were introduced. The use of open dates and improved handling practices also reduced in-store product losses. Results indicated that food date labeling may be beneficial to shoppers because it gives them increased assurance of food freshness and to retailers because it promotes better food handling and stock rotation practices.

Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety; Marketing; Research Methods/Statistical Methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 90
Date: 1973-01
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:uamsmr:313404

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.313404

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