With food inflation set to rise even further over the coming months, households across the UK are taking new steps to bring down costs.
A ‘tsunami of need’ spurred by the cost of living crisis has led to 1.3 million food parcels handed out within just six months.
Meanwhile in supermarkets the costs of essential foods – such as bread, pasta and milk – have ‘soared’ over the last year.
While the average price tag on pasta used to stand at around 38p, the price has now jumped to 61p – an increase of 59.9%.
Other essentials such as bread, tea, milk and tea have also skyrocketed in price.
Andy Needham, managing director at Approved Food, says families are searching for savings ‘wherever possible’.
The Yorkshire-based company, which launched 14 years ago, breaks down ‘wide misconceptions’ on certain foods being ‘bad’ after their best-before-dates pass.
Mr Needham said he has seen a ‘notable increase’ in demand as the cost of living crisis grips the nation.
What's the difference between use by and best before?
Use by is about food safety. Usually, it’s provided on fresh, highly perishable products such as fish or chicken. Eating something after the specified use by date is considered unsafe.
The UK’s Food Standards Agency says you shouldn’t eat foods after their use by date.
Best before is not about safety, but signifies when the food is of the highest quality.
After the best before date, you may still be able to munch on it, but it may have a different texture, or not taste the best.
He told Metro.co.uk: ‘During Covid we saw a substantial increase in orders, especially as customers needed items delivering direct to their homes and we do exactly that.
‘That trend levelled off slightly until August of this year, when we started to see a notable increase in website visits and orders, as consumers are now searching for value for money items and savings wherever possible.
‘Food inflation is running at circa 15% and is likely to go higher over the next few months.’
Buying food past its best before date can make a saving of up to 70% on an average shop.
As budgets continue to be ‘stretched’ among families, Approved Food is bracing for a busy spell over winter.
Mr Needham added that the food market as a whole would be dramatically altered over winter months.
He said: ‘The increase in demand for food banks is a frightening trend and is only likely to increase over the winter months. Growing your own food is not as practical during colder months but will increase in Spring onwards no doubt.
‘This winter is of course going to be very tough for everyone. Planning ahead could help considerably, buying just what is needed, freezing extras for use at a later date, talking to friends and family and sharing tips where possible.
‘We’re heading into the toughest 6/9 months I can remember in my lifetime unfortunately, but we will get through it.’
As awareness rises about best before dates and what food is safe to eat, some supermarkets have started to take steps to ensure food isn’t wasted, and people put off by nearing dates.
Morrisons recently ditched the use by label on its own-brand milk in January 2022, opting for a ‘best before’ date instead, and championing use of the ‘sniff test’.
Milk is the third-most wasted food or drink product in the UK, with 85 million pints poured away due to consumers following the ‘use by’ date alone, according to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
Marcus Gover, of the charity, had said: ‘I am delighted that Morrisons is the first UK supermarket to take this important step to help reduce household food waste – it shows real leadership and we look forward to more retailers reviewing date labels on their products and taking action.’
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