Extending expiration dates and shelf life is Campden BRI’s latest research endeavor that could save food producers and retailers millions of pounds in wasted produce. The company is seeking supporting research partners to revise established standards to increase the shelf life of fresh fish and seafood, in particular.

“This research will focus on whether existing standards for assessing shelf life are overly cautious,” says project lead Greg Jones, Campden BRI microbiologist. 

When it comes to shelf life, fish and seafood are renowned for being highly-perishable, he argues. 

“But it’s still quite possible that current rejection thresholds for levels of microorganisms are set unrealistically low, leading to significant wastage and cost. We’ll be undertaking microbiological, chemical and sensory testing to see if reviewing these standards can achieve improved shelf life without compromising product safety.”

Seafood and shelf life 
The scientists are looking for fish and seafood producers as well as retailers to work with them on the project to undertake investigations and analyses on a comprehensive range of products.

The research will begin in November and run for one year. It will involve suppliers and retailers from across the fish and seafood sector providing a range of products for testing. 

In 2011, UK charity Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) estimated that 1.2 percent of fishery produce was wasted, with the cost to retailers alone of £12 million (US$15.4 million).

Currently, most retailers apply microbiological specifications, as indicators of quality, to the raw seafood (fish, prawns and shellfish) that they source from their suppliers. 

Producer feedback suggests that the upper limits in these specifications are currently set too low to take account of the natural levels of microflora and can potentially be exceeded even at the very start of shelf life, despite the food being safe and organoleptically acceptable.

“This suggests that the natural flora of seafood may already be at a higher level than that permitted by the specifications,” continues Jones. 

“If the evidence justifies a review of these specifications, by correlating sensory data with plate counts, the benefits to producers and retailers will be considerable – allowing safe food to be stored for a longer time. Consequently, it will also reduce environmental and financial impacts through reduced waste.”

This month, FoodIngredientsFirst reported that ocean lobby groups and NGOs were left reeling following the European Commission proposal for Baltic fishing limits for 2021. 

Meanwhile, last month, the Consumer Goods Forum launched a CEO-led Coalition of Action on Food Waste, which sees 14 of the world’s largest retailers and manufacturers join forces. Some of the most prominent retail players have joined, including Walmart, Tesco and Sainsbury, while food giants like General Mills, Kellogg Company, and Nestlé are also onboard.

The impact of food waste on the planet
Food waste is an enormous environmental, social and economic problem. A third of food produced is never eaten, which amounts to approximately 1.3 billion metric tons of food lost each year.

Food waste is also responsible for adding 3.3 billion tons of greenhouse gases into the planet’s atmosphere annually.

This week, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN Environment Programme revealed the first International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (September 29).

The marking of the day – under the slogan “Stop food loss and waste. For the people. For the planet,” is taking place during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

The day is cited in the context of rising global hunger and climate change, COVID-19’s ongoing threat to the food and nutrition security of millions of people, and increased food loss and waste – a result of movement and transport restrictions due to the pandemic.

Each year, around 14 percent of the world’s food is lost before reaching its intended market.

COVID-19 aside, each year, about 14 percent of the world’s food is lost before even reaching the market. 

Food loss is valued at US$400 billion annually, and food loss and waste generate eight percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.