Tesco to phase out six-pint cartons with Aldi to scrap milk use by dates in 2024

Tesco is phasing out its largest milk cartons as part of efforts to cut food waste.

The supermarket has confirmed it is no longer going to be selling milk in six-pint cartons.

Shoppers have taken to social media in recent weeks to query the gradual disappearance of the six-pint carton both from supermarket fridges and the firm’s online grocery shopping site.

The retailer says its four-pint cartons will offer the same value per pint as the larger six-pint cartons did - but it is hoped reducing the size of its biggest packaging option will help customers waste less.

Four pints of milk at Tesco currently costs £1.45.

But not all customers have welcomed the move with some querying on Twitter whether there will be increased plastic waste by bigger families who will now need to buy more of the smaller cartons.

Earlier this year Tesco announced it was also scrapping the use by dates on numerous dairy products as part of efforts to encourage customers to consume them for longer.

Thirty of the store’s own brand products, including much of its yoghurt range, ditched use by dates in favour of best before stamps, as Tesco said it hoped people would exercise their judgement when deciding whether food was still good enough to eat.

Aldi has this week become the latest supermarket to announce it is to scrap the use by dates on its fresh milk.

Joining the likes of M&S and Morrisons, which already encourage customers to use the ‘sniff test’, the budget retailer has confirmed all use by dates on milk cartons will be removed next year at it too supports efforts to cut down on food waste.

According to waste reduction charity WRAP, an estimated 300,000 tonnes of milk is wasted each year by UK households because they don't consume it by the use by date and then throw it away.