Overview
- The supermarket is testing the square 2D codes on four items—lemons, limes, steaks and sausages—in selected stores across the UK.
- Scans are intended to show expiry dates, allergen alerts, dietary guidance, recipe ideas and storage tips to help shoppers avoid out-of-date food.
- Retailers can link the codes to use-by dates and batch numbers to streamline stock handling and cut waste, according to industry reporting.
- GS1 UK and Domino Printing Sciences say the consumer potential is significant, while predicting a phased transition with traditional barcodes remaining for years.
- Major brands such as Unilever, Procter & Gamble and L’Oréal are reported to be adopting the labels, with GS1 seeking UK-wide adoption by 2027 and Unilever trialling accessibility features for visually impaired shoppers.