The Food Standards Agency is urging consumers not to take shortcuts on food safety, as new research suggests cash-strapped Brits are taking an increasingly lax approach to use-by dates.
In a survey with 1,906 UK consumers, commissioned by the FSA and conducted by Harris Interactive, 22% said they no longer followed use-by dates as strictly as they used to.
The FSA does not have comparative data on public attitudes to use-by dates from previous years, but said suggestions people were following them less strictly were concerning. “Use-by dates are the most important date on the food label,” the FSA said. “They are used on foods that can rapidly become unsafe, such as chilled or ready-to-eat foods.”
Overall, 97% of consumers said their typical shopping basket had become more expensive over the past three years and estimated their weekly shop was now, on average, about £15 more expensive than in 2009.
To cope with higher shopping bills, 75% of shoppers said they took more advantage of promotions, such as “buy one get one free” offers, while 65% said they had switched to cheaper items or cheaper brands. Nearly 50% said they tried to be less wasteful by making better use of leftover food and 40% said they tried to make food last longer.
The FSA published its research to mark the start of Food Safety Week, which revolves around the theme “food safety on a budget”.
FSA head of foodborne disease strategy Bob Martin said using leftover food was a good way of making meals go further. But he warned: “Unless we’re careful, there’s a chance we can risk food poisoning by not storing or handling them properly. During Food Safety Week, we are encouraging people to view their fridge as their friend, and make the most of leftovers while staying safe.”
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