Across Canada, millions of pounds of perfectly good food are wasted every year—often for reasons that could easily be avoided. The research says that confusion around best before dates, is one of the biggest culprits.

At the same time, more people than ever are accessing charitable food programs. Reducing waste has never been more urgent.

That’s why we’re inviting you to join Love Food Hate Waste for a free series of engaging and practical webinars designed to help you waste less, save more, and make the most of the food you buy.

Led by food educators, researchers, and experts, these sessions will bust common myths, share science-backed insights, and give you easy, actionable tips you can use at home, at work, and in your community. Whether you’re new to the issue or already a food waste warrior, you’ll walk away with new knowledge and confidence.

Webinar schedule

Thursday, October 2

A stunning $59 billion worth of avoidable food waste occurs in Canada each year, at a time when people are accessing charitable food programs in record numbers. Learn about the key findings of Second Harvest’s recently released research report, The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste: Update, and explore what Second Harvest is doing to address it. Specifically, best before dates are a major driver for food waste. In this training session, you will dive into the world of food date labelling practices in Canada and dispel food date labelling myths.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Identify differences between date label terms
• Identify when a food is safe to eat or not
• Apply practices to reduce household food waste

Time: 12:00 – 12:45 pm Pacific / 3:00 – 3:45 pm Eastern

Led by: Second Harvest

Language: English (with French subtitles)

Wednesday, October 8

Plan it. Keep it. Use it. 

Smart tricks to stop wasting food (and money)

We’ve all been there—wilted herbs, squishy cucumbers, or yogurt tossed because the date “might” mean it’s bad. Truth is, most of us waste way more food than we want to.

In this fun, lively session, professional home economist Getty Stewart shares real-life tips to help you say goodbye to the guilt of tossing food. Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Meal-planning magic – why just 5 minutes of planning can save you from food waste
• Storage secrets – what actually works to keep food fresh for longer
• The real scoop on best before dates – when to trust them, when to ignore them, and how to use your senses to tell if food is truly still good
• “Use it up” hacks – fun, easy ways to turn tired produce into something delicious

This isn’t a lecture – it’s a confidence booster packed with real-life examples and practical kitchen tips you’ll use every single day.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Understand how meal planning can help reduce household food waste
• Apply storage tips that extend the life of common fresh foods
• Use their senses to confidently to assess food safety
• Practice ways to use up food nearing the end of its life

Time: 5:00 – 6:00 pm Pacific / 8:00 – 9:00 pm Eastern

Led by: Getty Stewart, Professional Home Economist

Language: English (with French subtitles)

Tuesday, October 21

Food Loss and Waste: Demystifying Expiration Dates

Time: 9:00 – 10:00 am Pacific / 12:00 – 1:00 pm Eastern

Led by: RECYC-QUÉBEC, as part of Québec Waste Reduction Week

Language: French (with English subtitles)

Tuesday, October 21

Eat or Toss? The science behind common food blemishes and what to do about them

Is that spot on your apple or fuzz on your cheese a reason to toss it—or is it still safe to eat? In this eye-opening and interactive session, Rachael Jackson, creator of the Eat or Toss? website, will give you a guided tour of the Eat or Toss? platform—an easy-to-use resource designed to help you waste less food by understanding what physical changes in your foods really mean so you can make informed decisions about what stays and what goes.

Rachael will also host a live Q&A to answer your most curious or questionable food blemish dilemmas, helping you separate fact from fiction when it comes to food safety.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Gain more understanding of why certain foods might look “off”

• Gain science-informed guidance on assessing whether food is safe to eat

• Explore the Eat or Toss? website as a go-to tool for food waste prevention

• Feel more confident in making food safety decisions at home

Time: 4:00 – 5:00 pm Pacific / 7:00 – 8:00 pm Eastern

Led by: Rachael Jackson, founder and author of Eat or Toss?

Language: English (with French subtitles)

Thursday, October 23

How Looking, Smelling and Tasting can impact the planet and your wallet

Confusion around best before dates leads to significant food waste in Canada. This informative webinar explores the Look, Smell, Taste initiative by Too Good To Go, which encourages Canadians to trust their senses rather than rely solely on date labels.

Participants will gain a clear understanding of best before dates in Canada and how this initiative is helping reduce waste. The session features insights from partner manufacturers who have adopted the approach, as well as newly-released research findings presented by Dr. Sylvain Charlebois on the broader impact date label-related waste is having on our wallets.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the role and meaning of best before dates in Canada

• Explore how the Look, Smell, Taste initiative supports food waste reduction

• Hear firsthand experiences from industry partners applying these principles

• Learn key research insights on date labels and their impact

Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Pacific / 2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern

Led by: Too Good To Go with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

Language: English (with French subtitles)