Somehow the makers of the documentary determined every DAY we bin
2.8 million tomatoes 4.4 million apples 5.1 million potatoes 70 million slices of bread 1.2 million sausages 1 million slices of ham
This waste goes into Landfill sites, which creates methane gas and contributes to global warming. If you consider this is happening in all developed countries worldwide, the waste is enormous.
So, why do we throw so much food away?
Apparently it has much to do with our lack of knowledge on how to store products, and anxiety and confusion as to the meaning of the Best Before By, Sell By and Use By dates, which appear on the packaging.
It seems the Best Before By date is merely a guideline, and is more about the quality of the product rather than safety.
However, scientific studies have revealed the Use By and Sell By dates are more significant. There is a real health risk to some people if they are ignored.
Globally, ten children die every minute from malnutrition and yet supermarkets throw mountains of food away because of damaged packaging, lost food labels on tins, and expired Best Before dates.
These products may not be saleable to retailers, but someone, somewhere could use them. I'm sure the starving millions, or people on low incomes would be grateful for the goods.
The supermarkets say the proportion of food they throw away is minimal compared to the amount they carry, but is it too much? Collectively, each "minimal" combines to make a "substantial" amount over time, and are the supermarkets making us neurotic about the dates just to boost sales? After all, if we bin everything just past its Best Before date, won't we just go out and buy more?
No-one wants to get food poisoning and clearly certain foods like dairy and fresh meat, fish, and poultry need careful observation, but even then, provided the food is stored and cooked properly, much could be eaten.
One common cause of food poisoning is Campylobacter. This common bacteria causes fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, but thorough hygiene, plus careful storage, refrigeration and cooking of food can prevent this affecting anyone who is fit and healthy. Susceptible people are the very young, the old and those with a lowered immune system.
Bacteria cannot withstand high temperatures so it is particularly important to cook food thoroughly, especially with barbecues. Many people manage to burn the meat on the outside and yet it remains uncooked in the middle.
Another thing to watch out for is the cross contamination of raw and cooked food. You must NEVER use the same plate or chopping board, and also if you marinate the meat, leave it covered in the refrigerator rather than outside.
Also, you must ensure you wash your salad correctly.
Of course the absolute best way to ensure your health is not at risk from dodgy food is to boost your immune system by deliberately giving yourself bacteria. This time, however, you take a daily dose of good, friendly, healthy, probiotic bacteria. These are the good guys, which everyone needs.
The next time you go shopping, instead of wasting money on too much food destined for the landfill, might it not be wiser to invest in some active probiotics and your good health instead?
Use by dates Use by dates are used on foods that have a shorter shelf life and that go off quickly. These foods include fresh and cooked meat and fish, soft cheeses, yoghurts and other dairy produce. The Foods Standard Agency state that we should not consume any food or drink that has gone past the use by date even if it appears to be edible and smells normal. The reason for this is foods and drinks consumed after this date could pose a threat to your health and cause food poisoning.
It is also essential that foods with use by dates are stored according to the instructions on the packaging. Foods that should be kept in a refrigerator will spoil quicker if left at room temperature and could potentially cause food poisoning.
Some foods with use by dates can be frozen to extend its life. If this is the case, you should ensure that you follow the instructions on the packaging, for example, freeze on day of purchase or defrost thoroughly before use.
You should also ensure that foods with use by dates are cooked and prepared according to the instructions on the pack to avoid any risk of food poisoning.
Best before Best before dates are used on canned, frozen, dried and other foods such as biscuits, bread and most cakes. They are used to let the consumer know when the foods may start to deteriorate in quality and does not suggest they will be harmful to you if consumed after this date. The only exception to this rule is the best before date for eggs; eggs should not be eaten after this date. The reason for this is because eggs can contain salmonella bacteria which can start to multiply after this date.
Just like use by dates, best before dates are only accurate if the produce is stored according to the instructions on the label. Some foods need to be stored in a cool dry place, whereas others need to be kept in a refrigerator once they have been opened.
As best before dates are just a guide as to when foods need to be eaten by to ensure the best quality, they do not need to be thrown away once they have passed this date. Statistics show that around a third of the food we buy ends up being thrown away and most of this could have been eaten.
Both use by dates and best before dates are decided by the manufacturer. New products on the market are first tested to determine at what stage the bacteria in the food or drink becomes harmful. They then undergo more tests to see how factors such as packaging, transportation and storage temperatures can affect the longevity of the product.
Both Jean Shaw & John Mce are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.