Use by dates.

[Workingman]

Morrisons is scrapping 'use by' on its own brand milk, as it has already done on some cheese and yoghurts. Well done them.

We have survived thousands of years using the 'sniff test' for some foods. The big problem as I see it is that at least two generations do not know what something that is 'off' smells like.

They also throw things out that do not look right. Out go softer tomatoes, bananas with brown blotches, hard cheese with a rind on it, 'drooping' celery, early sprouting potatoes...... People could save a fortune when using these things up.

It would also help if people learned how to store things properly. The chiller drawer in the fridge is often not to best place to keep some veg, an open rack in a cool dark place is better, and so is taking them out of their plastic sleeping bags.

[TheOstrich]

Indeed. You can't beat the sniff test, or the cheesy curdling blobs either!

We try and have a "use within 48 hours" rule for supermarket fruit and veg, and I have to say we've still lost the occasional produce from both Aldi and Waitrose. Peppers, tomatoes and bananas are the main culprits.

And Spanish onions, Ally! Had a net of three from Aldi recently, all of which had partially rotted in the middle - we salvaged what we could for soup. You won't get Gibraltar back if you keep selling us all your wonky stuff!

[cromwell]

I think initially sell by dates were a good idea to stop shops from selling manky food, but now I do wonder how much use they are.

[Suff]

Sell by dates became best before dates. Outside of fresh goods, some others can literally last years pat their best before date, they just won't be as good.

Use by is a far better indicator but it means people will keep stuff longer and therefore buy less.

No point in suggesting youngsters use their nose, they want a barcode and something like a fridge which tells you to bin it.

[Kaz]

I've always gone by the look and smell of stuff, never had food poisoning once

[miasmum]

I have from home economics at school because I didn’t cook my sausages properly

But joking aside Luke ended up in hospital with salmonella from eggs

[Suff]

Mrs S bins all sorts of stuff by the date.

Fortunately we have hens now. No dates on the eggs...