Food waste is a big issue in the UK and we waste an incredible £12.5 billion a year on food through a lack of understanding of use by dates. We throw away 7 million tonnes of food and drink a year – 4.4 million tonnes of which could be eaten*. So how can we identify the good, the bad and the really ugly truth about food waste?
Date labels
There has been some confusion with regards to the labelling on food in the past but recently the government has been clamping down on food manufacturers and improving clarity around the dates issued on food labelling:
· Best before: this refers to the quality of the food rather than safety. Food is still safe to eat after the best before date, but may no longer be at their best.
· Use by: this
advice is about safety, it can be eaten up to the date but not after.
· Display until / sell by: these are for shop staff and not the public.
Do you waste food?
We don’t want to admit we waste food, but each of us throws away up to 110kg of food a year. Explore your kitchen and see where you might be wasting good food without even realising it:
· Fridge: incorrect storage is one of the main reasons we waste food. Your fridge should be set at 5 degrees Celsius or below to help your food stay fresher for longer.
· Cupboards: use cupboard staples such as rice and pasta to add to leftover food from a meal
· Shopping list: check cupboards and fridge and write a list of items you actually need instead of stocking up on things that might go to waste or that you already have.
· Leftovers: we often cook or prepare 
too much, use airtight containers to store the leftovers and put in the freezer for an extra meal.
· Storage: many of us are unaware of the correct way to store things; put bread in a cupboard or a bread bin, keep fruit in the fridge and store potatoes in a cool dark place.
Follow our tips to save money on the food bill, and reduce unnecessary food waste!
For more handy tips and time saving, click here
