Nestlé has launched ‘Sniff, Look, Taste,’ a new Australian pilot designed to tackle one of the most common causes of household food waste: date label confusion.

The pilot was developed in collaboration with OzHarvest and informed by their research, insights, and expertise. It was also informed by local and global research, including RMIT University and End Food Waste Australia.

Each year, Australia wastes 7.6 million tonnes of food, with households responsible for around one third of this – despite 70% being perfectly good to eat (OzHarvest, ‘Half Eaten: Australian Household Food Waste Research 2025). The OzHarvest research also shows that 58% of high-wasting households throw food away because they are unsure what Use By and Best Before dates mean.

To help people make more confident decisions at home, the new ‘Sniff, Look, Taste’ on-pack logo encourages Australians to pause before throwing food away, check the date label and, where a product is past its Best Before date, use their senses, in conjunction with the Best Before date to determine whether it’s still good to eat.

The logo is now appearing on selected Maggi 2 Minute Noodles packs.

Nestlé Oceania Regulatory, Scientific and Nutrition Manager Kirsten Grinter says the initiative has been specifically designed to address one of the biggest barriers to reducing food waste at home – confusion over date labels.

“The simple rule is Use By is about safety, so always follow it. Best Before is about quality, so check it,” she says. “That difference matters, because it can help people stay safe without throwing away food that may still be perfectly good.”

Australia’s annual food waste is projected to reach 9.2 million tonnes by 2030 if nothing is done to address household food waste (source: End Food Waste Australia).

OzHarvest Head of Impact Hally Lara says building confidence is key to helping Australians waste less food at home.

“Many Australians want to waste less, but they don’t always feel confident making the right call, especially when it comes to date labels. Reducing household food waste is all about small changes that can make a huge difference,” she says.

“Bringing this simple message and actionable tips on Nestlé products, the “Sniff, Look Taste’ logo gives people the perfect reminder to take action.”

The on-pack logo is now placed on Maggi Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream 2 Minute Noodles 345g packs and Maggi Smokey Barbecue 2 Minute Noodles 345g packs, available in supermarkets and grocery stores around the country.