In collaboration with Love Food Hate Waste.
Did you know that in 2015 in the UK alone we threw away 7.3 million tonnes of perfectly edible food? That’s £13 billion gone straight into our landfill! In addition to the environmental and social impacts of this waste, we are literally throwing money away!
According to Love Food Hate Waste, the leading UK food waste prevention group, if we use up what we buy we could save up to £60 a month. Throwing good food away costs the average person in the UK around £200 a year, and the average family £700. So there’s a huge opportunity for all of us to cut what we spend at the checkout simply by saving more of the food we buy from the bin… and it’s a lot easier than you might think!
Table of Contents
GIVE UP BINNING FOOD
This Lent the Love Food Hate Waste campaign have challenged us all to #giveupbinningfood instead. Instead of giving up chocolate or wine, like many of us do, they’ve asked us to think about preventing food waste in the home.
The six-week long food waste prevention campaign running is broken down into weekly themes to help make reducing food waste at home a more attainable goal. These themes are:
1st March (week 1) Meal planning: Tip for Weekly Meal Planning
8th March (week 2) Storage: Food Storage Tips
15th March (week 3) Fridge focus: How to Make the Most Out of My Fridge
22nd March (week 4) Portioning – 6 Tips for Perfect Portioning
29th March (week 5) Food labels – what does this mean?
5th – 13th April (week 6) Leftovers – what can I do with my ingredients?
FOOD LABELS – WHAT DO THESE MEAN?
Food labelling should and can be simple but is often made to be quite confusing. Across the wide range of food products available there are so many different codes, labels and standards that it can be difficult to know what we’re looking for and what it all means for us at home. But getting to grips with three key date labels is very important and can significantly help reduce food waste in the home.
‘Best before’ dates are less to do with safety and more to do with the quality of your food. Eat it up ahead of the ‘best before’ and you’ll be having it at its best. Eat it after and it’ll still be fine, but the flavour and texture might be waning. Again, make sure you store best before’ foods correctly otherwise the dates don’t apply.
‘Use by’ dates are meant to be instruction and are very much about food safety. Make sure to correctly store these items as directed, and use them by the date shown.
‘Display until’ or ‘sell by’ dates can be ignored. These are for shop staff to know when to take the product off the shelves.
Watch the video below of blogger Liberty London Girl for more tips on understanding food labels.
TIPS FOR UNDERSTANDING FOOD LABELS FROM LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE
- Use by is about food safety and should be taken as an instruction. It’s meant for foods with shorter lifespans, like dairy, fish or meat.
- Best Before is about food quality and should be taken as a suggestion. These foods are safe to eat for up to several days after this date, but may no longer be at their best.
- Display until or Sell by dates can be completely ignored. This is purely for shop staff to know when to take it off the shelves.
- For all foods, it is advisable to read the instructions on–pack and follow the advice.
- You can safely freeze most foods right up to the use by date. Although it would be good to freeze it as soon as you know you aren’t going to use it.
- Eggs can be eaten after their Best before date. Test freshness by gently place an egg in a large glass of cold water. If it sinks it’s suitable for eating. If it floats, it’s gone off and must not be eaten.
- Foods that are very salty or very sweet are usually fine to eat after their Best Before date.
- Most packets have instructions on them to tell you how long the food is good to eat after the pack is opened.
- If you can’t get through the food in that time, wrap it up, label it and freeze it for another time.
- Regularly check your fridge and store cupboard for the ‘Use By’ dates on your food and plan when to cook them accordingly.
- Remember that dried foods such as biscuits, nuts, dried fruits, crackers, crisps and cakes are usually safe to eat even after their best before date, at worst they will taste stale, but they can still be used up in recipes.
For recipe inspiration and plenty of other food waste prevention tips and tricks sign up to the Love Food Hate Waste newsletter! During Lent they’re sharing daily tips on how we can all prevent food waste in the home.
JOIN US WITH THE NO WASTE FOOD CHALLENGE!
I challenge you, dear reader, to share your own suggestions on to help prevent food waste! You don’t have to have a blog to enter, simply let me know your recipe or tip (this week it’s all about food labels – do you have a story to share?) in the comments below and fill out the Rafflecopter form. Bloggers – link up with the linky tool below, as usual, to be included in the roundup – click here for the full No Waste Food Challenge rules. If you want to enter the giveaway, leave a comment and enter via the Rafflecopter form.
HOW TO ENTER
For your chance to win a £25 Amazon Gift Voucher enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Share your recipe, meal planning or food waste prevention tip in the blog comments. Come back and tweet about the giveaway every day for more chances to win!
TERMS & CONDITIONS
This giveaway is open to UK entries only. Entrants must be age 18 or over. The winner will need to respond within 30 days of being contacted; failure to do this may result in another winner being selected.
The prize is offered and provided by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary. The prize is to win a £25 Amazon Gift Voucher. There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.
There is no entry fee and no purchase is necessary to enter this giveaway.
The promoter (Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary) reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway and these terms and conditions without notice.
Entry into our giveaways will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
If you need some help using Rafflecopter, here’s a quick clip to show you how. Rafflecopter will pick the winner at random from all the entries received. I will be verifying entries. Any automated entries or those who have claimed they have made the mandatory blog post comment and really haven’t will be disqualified. It’s mandatory! Please make sure your comment is eight words or longer or Google views it as spam and this negatively affects my spam score. All entries with comments fewer than the mandatory 8 words will be disqualified and deleted.
Closing date is midnight (that’s 00:00 hours, 12 am on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning) on Wednesday 5 April 2017 (GMT). The winner will be announced afterwards.
This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Love Food Hate Waste. Thank you for supporting the brands who make it possible for me to do what I love: mess up my kitchen and share recipe stories. Can with date image via Shutterstock.
Daydream adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Calls Shetland home, for now. One eye is always on the horizon.
Natalie Crossan says
I try not to do it where possible because if I get a tummy niggle or my daughter does, I’m always wondering if it was the food. Although I will occassionally give a sniff test!
Angela Webster says
I try to avoid food waste as much as possible by buying only what we need and can use in time. I have no problem eating food past it’s used date as long as it smells okay. I try to freeze as many leftovers as I can and use excess veg and fruit in soups or smoothies.
Jade Hewlett says
Most things I don’t eat past its sell by date but it depends on the food
Heather Haigh says
With dried foods like rice and pulses I often eat them well past their best before date and don’t notice much difference.
Solange says
Depending on the food i think it’s fine to eat it a couple of days after the best before date.
Sarah Rees says
Never had a problem, I just have a sniff first to see if it smells okay
Sam R says
Ive ate crisps after the best before date and they were fine! i think if it smells / looks ok then its fine! x
Andrea Smith says
I do it all the time. If it smells ok, looks ok then it is fine to eat. I’m still here to tell the tale. 😉
Emily Clark says
I think it’s absolutely fine to eat food past it’s sell by date. Rely on your senses – if it doesn’t smell right, don’t eat it!
Cheryl O'Sullivan says
Always getting stuff past it’s best before date, and sometimes very cheap. We do an online order from a shop that specialises in this stuff and almost everything still tastes the same.
LINDSEY CLARK says
I do it regularly. But if its meat or milk, I smell it first. I never do it with fish.
lyn burgess says
I don’t tend to mind food just past it’s ‘best before date but I would never eat food beyond the use by date as it’s not worth the risk.
Margaret gallagher says
Think it’s about using common sense dried products and tins are fine more wary of chicken and eggs
If it smells ok it usually is -can really cut shopping bills by buying at sell by date
Jennifer Roberts says
Rarely had a problem – those dates are usually wasteful and incorrect. Humans have survived a long time using our senses no need to stop now. Use your brain and you’ll realise most food past it’s best before date is fine 🙂
Victoria N says
As long as it looks and smells ok I’ve tended to be fine eating best before dated products
Janice says
depending on the food i think it’s fine to eat it a couple of days after
Kara W says
I tend not to eat foods past their eat by date. Maybe some foods are fine but I don’t like being sick so Id rather not take the chance x
Kate Knight says
I rarely do that, I’m a bit too nervous! Don’t want to get sick
Tee Simpson says
I have found eating food past its sell by date is fine. Especially tinned food and dried food.
jennifer thorpe says
It’s not something we do very often at all.
leanne weir says
If it looks okay, smells okay then eat it
clair downham says
as long as it looks and mells ok dont think you will have any probs
Lorraine Kirk says
Food past ‘best before date is generally fine. I would never eat food beyond the use by date as it’s not worth the risk.
Jo Carroll says
I probably bug people keep insisting that they at least try to eat their ‘best before’ food even after it’s gone past the date. I think the labels should be made completely different from the ‘use before’ ones as the message just doesn’t sink in that the food is fine to consume…it’s just a suggestion on the quality of taste.
maureen findley says
i never eat it past the date because i have a young family andtheir health is too important to me
OlegT says
People are used to trust shops and do not check the expiration dates. Sometimes it’s quite difficult to add 45 days or 120 days to the production date and find out if the expiration date is, so I use the app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.shelflife.shelflife
Adam says
Thanks. Useful app then.
Stan says
Nice app!
Stuart Allen says
i’ve never had a problem! it’s usually not as crunchy or whatever but still perfectly edible! i never through food away unless its properly ‘off’!
Emma Gibson says
I do it all the time and its never hurt me.
Ali Thorpe says
I think common sense is required. How does the food look, smell, feel? I ignore best before dates for vegetables and I don’t eat meat so it’s not an issue.
Sarah Morris says
I tend to do the sniff test on meats and so on and go by my judgement, although I am a bit wary of eating anything past the dates on the packaging. I try to freeze things that are able to be frozen, several days before I notice them creeping up to their expiry date, which helps save on waste, I also try not to buy too much in bulk hence saving on waste in that sense too.
Sharon worsley says
I have no issues as long a second it looks and smells good
Caroline H says
I ignore both Use By and Sell By Dates! I rely on what I see, smell and in the odd case a tiny taste. I will say that if I wasn’t vegetarian I may have a different view though. My husband, on the other hand is a slave to the dates and will chuck anything even a few days before the date if he gets to the cupboards and fridge first!
Holly Gibson says
I usually find it’s OK, as long as it doesn’t smell off or I can’t see mould
Elisabeth Ries says
Quite happy with dry goods, so long as they look and smell ok. Fish and things I’d rather be cautious.
Anthony Harrington says
rarely have anything that is passed its date, depends what it is, but biscuits, cakes etc I would just try and if they tasted ok and were not stale I would eat them
Lee Ritson says
I’ve never had an issue eating food past its “best before date” 🙂
Lauren Lawrence says
Depends on the food, I don’t tend to risk it with meat but other htings can be fine
Lauren Lawrence says
Depends on the food, I don’t tend to risk it with meat
Carole E says
If it smells and looks ok then I would eat foods after sell by date
Marc Chivers says
Usually doesn’t taste any different
laura banks says
i do it quite often and never had any problems
Emma Nixon says
Occasionally something goes past the best before date. Most things i find are ok , use the looks good, smells good, tastes ok theory. Seems to work ok.
Ann Robinson says
I use the common sense approah, if something is a day or two past it’s date but looks and smells ok then I will eat it
Phillipa ODonovan says
I’ve never had food poisoning and I eat so much stuff past the best date.
I am vegetarian so I obviously don’t eat any gone off meat.
Eggs/yoghurt/canned food/milk/veggies/baked goods are ALL fine
Andrew Hindley says
I never allow food to pass it’s expiry date, I always eat food before it expires
Andrew Petrie says
Nothing ever noticeable bad has ever happened !
simon tutthill says
usually if its just a day or two after the sell by date its pretty safe for me,but once past that its a no no
Helen W says
I use the best before date as a guide, but also look/smell/taste something to see if it’s ok. I’ve had things go off before the best before date, and also have had some things be perfectly fine after.
Kayleigh Tanner says
I almost always eat things past their sell-by dates (unless it’s meat). I just give them a smell and a squeeze and if it looks fine I’ll usually try my luck – I hate wasting food!
Sophie Foulds says
I’ve never tried anything past it’s best before date 😮 xx
ADEINNE TONNER says
I honestly think it tastes the same even if you pass a few days when it has expired
Marc H says
After having awful food poisoning once, i’m very cautious about eating out of date meat. Other things i’m OK with though. As long as it smells fine and has no mould, i’ll probably eat it.
Liam Bishop says
Can’t say I’ve ever noticed a difference!
Alica says
If it looks and smells ok then we do it all the time! We have little money, so never waste if we don’t need to.
debbie melville says
Unless it’s fish / dairy, if it smells & looks ok i eat it
Louise A says
My experiences are very good and I regularly use food past their best before dates. I even eat things past their use by date if its a couple of days or so. I tend to go by smell, taste and the look of it. My cats are very picky and on the rare occasion I have something I am unsure about that I know they love .g. cooked chicken I test on them first and they have never let me down. We’ve never had food poisoning/upset stomachs from anything I have used or cooked, really the only times we get that is when we eat out!
Sarah Pybus says
I use my senses, if food is off you can see and smell it. Use by dates are a guide and nothing more
sarah birkett says
Just go for it. Big advocate of freezing stuff as well. I buy loads of “yellow sticker” stuff and very very rarely do I throw anything out
Fiona says
I always do it (if the food is still fresh of course) and it’s been fine. In fact the only time I’ve ever had food poisoning as been from things well within their dates!
Sarah Ann says
I don’t do it if it’s meat, fish or milk, but I have had items such as bread, vegetables and fruit a day or two after their sell by or best before date and to me, they have tasted just fine!
Keshia Esgate says
crisps lose their strong flavour but mostly fine!
Elizabeth says
don’t they! They’re like the only thing that decides, right on it’s best before date, that’s all of a sudden going to be stale and awful, lol! 🙂
Michael says
usually tastes all right
Jen Schofield says
I often do it and it’s never bothered me before.
Jennifer Gardner says
If it’s chicken or fish – no! If it’s pork it’s fine the next day and if it’s something like beef steak it’s fine the next week or more.
Cherry Edwards says
If it’s a best before date you cannot do yourself any harm at all eating the food. Sell by and Use by dates are a different thing altogether and should be strictly adhered to.
amy bondoc says
i never risk it if its past its sell by date i bin it, even veggies
Tess D says
best before to me is just a guide so quite frequently eat food past this date with no bad experiences –
Kat Lucas says
I often do it other than I don’t like to take chances with fish
Michael Clarke says
Eggs are often fine a few days past the use by date as is cheese. chicken and fish is a big No.
Becky John says
I’ve never eaten food after the sell by date
the master says
my only experience was bisscuits which were slightly soft
Simon LC says
If it’s not meat or fish and looks/smells ok then it’s usually fine
kim plant says
as ong as its not meat or seafood you should be ok x
Louise Smith says
I’ve never eaten food after the sell by date
Charlotte Herbert says
I give it a good look and a good sniff and if it smells fine then it is! I hate wasting food it makes me sad!
Kate Milton says
If it looks ok and smells ok I generally eat it. We’ve never had any problems. People throw away far too much needlessly.
stuart hargreaves says
NO PROBLEMS LOOK SMELL TASTE GETS MY BY
Tracey Peach says
I’ve never eaten food beyond it’s best before date I’ve never been brave enough! 🙂 x
Joanne Blunt says
I’m ok with best before dates as long as it’s not too far past. My husband will eat anything though.
Rob Hutchinson says
As long as it looks and smells alright to me, I’m okay with eating food that is past the best before date. I haven’t had any adverse reactions so far.
Claire Willmer says
I try not to waste food so if it is just best before it is as you say just usually tastes better before that date.
Amy Wright says
I always eat bread and veg past its best before date – as long as there’s no mould on the bread it’s fine, especially for toast!
Victoria Mills says
Interesting blog
Pamela Gossage says
I have often done this and have suffered no ill effects
Gabby Evans says
i always smell food first-thats how i tell if its ok dont go much on dates
S Edwards says
i not have any problems with it
MM says
generally if food is beyond its ‘best by date’ i do test it before i use it. But if it tastes ok to me, then i will use it, rather than binning it.
Eleanor Beavan says
I am probably the opposite to most people much to my partner’s annoyance. I tend to eat food long after the use by date but to me if it tastes fine then it probably is. Any left overs always get stored away, potato and cabbage is always left over so it makes for a tasty bubble and squeak the next day. I absolutely hate waste and if something can be used for another meal then do it.
Ritchie says
I often eat vegetables and fruit past their sell by dates.
Zoe C says
Generally ok, I do use food past the best before dates, sometimes if can lose it’s flavour, but on a whole it’s fine, to be honest it surprises me how long the food is still ok way past their dates
Tom D says
I have no issue with eating most foods past their sell by date – better to use eyes and nose to judge whether they’re still good.
Emily Knight says
It really depends on the food! If it looks and smells ok, I’ll eat it – I hate wasting anything!
kim jackson says
I always fear getting food poisoning so i don’t eat foods past there date even though i know most of the time they would be fine to eat and most of the time by husband will still eat them.
Tracy Nixon says
I often do if it is just past the sell buy date – I smell it and if it smells and looks ok then I use it. No one has ever suffered from food poisoning in our house. I try not to waste food.