What a waste!

Today, my shopping was delivered and the young lad said 'Your potatoes are on their date today, do you want me to take them back?'

I looked at the spuds. They were dry, clean, weren't sprouting or mouldy, so I said 'They'll be fine for weeks yet.'

He gave me an odd look and said 'Well OK, if you are alright with eating them after their date.'

I asked him if he would eat them and he said no, he wouldn't because they would be past their date, he would throw them out.

It got me thinking about how much perfectly good food gets thrown away just because of a date printed on the packet.

I was born before best before dates and use by dates were printed on products.

We used our common sense back then. If the bread wasn't mouldy, if the milk smelled OK, then it was fine to use.

Dad grew fruit and veg, and after it was harvested, it was stored in the shed and was used throughout the Winter and into the next year – no best before dates there, either. If it was firm and not mouldy, it got eaten.

These days we are urged to do more to lessen food waste. So why are people still throwing away food that is perfectly good to eat?

Maybe it is time that producers took best before dates off of their food, so that people go back to using their eyes and nose to see if things are still good, rather than relying on a date.

So before you throw away that fruit, veg or bread that is past its best before date, check it, feel it, sniff it. If it looks good, smells good, feels good, then go ahead and eat it, rather than throwing it away.

Make a difference today, both to the planet and your purse.