The FSA says eating food beyond its use-by date or switching of the fridge or freezer could cause food poisoning. With food waste on the rise, many major UK supermarkets such as Morrisons have scrapped their best-before dates.
And many shoppers are consuming products after use-by dates dates as a money saving measure. However, the Grocery Gazette reports the Food Standards Agency has suggested that the crucial use-by dates should still be followed.
Shoppers can often be confused by the two dates. Use-by dates are about safety, and are the most important date to remember. You can eat food until and on the use-by date but not after. Foods that go off quickly, such as meats, fruits and vegetables will feature use-by dates, and must be followed.
