BARCODES in supermarkets could soon become a thing of the past as stores begin trialling a new generation of QR codes on products.
Tesco and other major retailers are phasing in the new technology in some shops around the UK.
The current striped labels are gradually being replaced by square “2D barcodes”, which could help shoppers avoid mistakenly buying food past its best before date.
Instead of just scanning items at the till, customers may soon be able to scan the QR codes on their phones to access extra information about what they’re buying.
This could include dietary advice and allergen warnings and product expiry dates.
Scanning the code can reveal recipe ideas as well as tips on how best to store the food.
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The technology is already being tested by Tesco on products including lemons, limes, steaks and sausages.
Global brands such as Unilever, Procter & Gamble and L’Oréal are also beginning to roll out the new-style barcodes.
The organisation that oversees the world’s barcodes, GS1, is urging UK retailers to switch to the new system by 2027, with experts saying it could revolutionise the way we shop.
It is thought the new system will improve customer experience, with no more squinting at small barcodes, or struggling to scan crumpled stickers.
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The next generation of QR codes are designed to scan more easily, cutting down checkout frustrations.
Camilla Young, who leads the next-generation barcode programme at GS1 UK, said the technology could bring huge benefits for providing extra information about food.
She said: “The potential for consumers is huge.”
Around 51 per cent of shoppers have accidentally bought out-of-date food at some point, costing UK households an estimated £11.8billion a year.
The new barcodes could help wipe out that risk by triggering alerts warning customers when products are close to their expiry date.
In the future, the codes could even help households track what’s inside their fridge — flagging when food is running low, suggesting recipes and warning when items are about to go off, according to experts.
