"Best Before" dates are going in order to reduce food waste
The Sunday Telegraph has revealed that the Government has set new guidelines, stating that “Best Before” dates, along with their compatriots in food dating “Best Before End” and “Sell By” in order to reduce food wastage. It is expected that Use By will remain for “highly perishable foods”.
Many foods, especially dry foods and instant foods, merely degrade in flavour or appearance once a Best Before date is exceeded, meaning that many can be consumed months, or even years after the dates have passed. However, some foods can have potential dangers after such dates - eggs being a notable example.
The solution in these guidelines is a label that sets out these dangers that will appear after a certain amount of time - such as the risk of salmonella in eggs.
It is accepted that food producers err on the side of caution when producing Use By dates. Food is tested to see how long it takes before a high level of dangerous bacteria is detected. A few days if often added on to this figure to not only prevent poisoned customers from taking court action, but also having the side effect of there being a high turnover of food. The shorter the time food lasts, the more is thrown away, and the more is bought.
WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), a non-departmental public body created in 2000 by the Government, has figures that estimate that £12bn of avoidable food waste is created every year - this excludes the waste produced in the supply chain with prepared food (like mixed salads and carrots that have been topped before purchase). The Government wants to reduce this figure - around a quarter of which is caused by fresh fruit, vegetables, and salads - this proportion being higher than ever before due to the 5-a-day fruit and vegetables initiative.
Supermarket offers are often blamed in part for the high amount of wastage - “buy one get one free” being one of the main culprits.
Sell by, Use by, Best by? They're all making you waste food.
grist.orgHere’s a superbly kept secret: You know all those dates you see on food products that say “sell by,” “use by,” and “best before”? Those dates do not indicate the safety of your food, and generally speaking, they’re not regulated.
9 DEADLY WORDS USE BY WOMEN
1) FINE
This is the word women used to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2) 5 MINUTES
If she is getting dress, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3) NOTHING
This is the calm before the storm. This means something and you should be on your toes. Arguments than begin w/ nothing usually end w/ fine.
4) GO AHEAD
This a dare, not a permission. Don’t do it!
5) LOUD SIGH
This is actually a word, but a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks your an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing w/ you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for nothing).
6) THAT’S OKAY
This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7) THANKS
A woman is thanking you, do not question or faint. Just say your welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true unless she says “Thanks a lot” - That is pure sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say “your welcome” , that will bring on a “whatever”).
8) WHATEVER
Its a woman’s way of saying F- YOU!
9) DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT, I GOT IT
Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking “What’s wrong?” For the womans response, refer to #3.
