Campaign To Sniff And Taste

[pastafreak]

...to reduce food waste. Well, it's about time people were encouraged to use common sense, rather than go by dates that often mean nothing. Well done.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/23/cut-food-waste-at-home-by-sniffing-and-tasting-urges-new-campaign

[Sqad]

That will cut no ice with Mrs sqad who is fanatical about dates,

[teacake44]

Most of the stuff I buy is reduced never had a problem with eating it, or keeping it longer. I only ever draw the line with chicken, but went off that anyhow months ago.

[jno]

all the more reason why they should be used when they mean something, Sqad? "Best before" ("or it won't taste so good") and "use before" ("or die") ought to mean different things.

[pastafreak]

I've just gone off Mrs Sqad.
I thought she was from the generation that believed in common sense.

[diddlydo]

I've always been one to sniff and taste rather than taking any notice of dates. Well done to the Guardian though for highlighting what is obviously a huge problem - a sensible newspaper of course.

[teacake44]

A good example is, I eat Warburtons bread, and I can honestly say that I've not paid full price for at least 4/5 months. Normal price is about £1.05 / £1.10, the Asda near me sells it on the last date @ 40p, sometimes less, I've paid as little as 25p, and its still soft and fresh nearly a week later.

[ToraToraTora]

Yep, it'd completely radio to go by the dates only, do things go off instantly when a certain data is reached? of course not. Some meat stuff is a lot better when it's past its use/sell by date.
Crikey, I've agreed with Teacake on one thread, now I agree with diddly on this one! well about sniff and taste, not about the Grauniad being "sensible" - I need a lie down!

[pastafreak]

Wow!!*
I've brought opposing factions together.
Is there a special badge for that?

* that's for Allen

[TonyV]

I buy lots of reduced produce, near best before date, freeze what we're not going to eat immediatel, normally a 1/3 off sometimes more. Cuts down on waste and saves us a few pennies.

[margarettom]

So what about people like me who have very little sense of smell. I use food in order of date or, if necessary, freeze it. I don’t waste food, because I belong to the generation that doesn’t. Obviously, I don’t obsess about ‘best before’ dates.

[jno]

my OH has a poor sense of smell and finds these labels useful, though not necessarily vital.

[teacake44]

I spent many many years in the food industry, and many products I can just look at to know if there ok. If anything its the supermarket staff that need training in all respects. They have become reliant on dates alone. I've spotted many pre-packed cooked meats going green in the packet, because the packet has split and the air as got in, but its still on sale with a good date on it, so that's were it stops, because they don't know any different.

[Apc2604]

And if you can't sniff or taste, get a Covid test. Seriously I thought this was this thread was about!!!

We sniff and taste, so nothing gets wasted, and if I am unsure of something I give it to him. My digestion is fragile - he has no problems!

[dannyk13]

Can't remember where it was biut some while ago on a news programme there was a shop that sold nothing else but out dated food.

[teacake44]

Unless you are a certain age group I doubt that if many younger people would even know what something should smell like.

[dannyk13]

Should have said outdated 'best before 'dates.'
https://www.approvedfood.co.uk/

[dannyk13]

TC//something should smell like.//
No, but they probably know what it shouldn't smell like.

[Apc2604]

We used to have a market stall in our local town that sold nothing but stuff out of date or very near its use by date. It's not there any more. It was always very busy.

[teacake44]

In my view the public are not the main wasters of food, its the supermarkets themselves, way to many lines, and over ordering is their main problem. If you run the corner shop like the supermarkets run their's you would be out of business within a few months.