There has been much in the media recently about the amount of food we waste, in particular the number of eggs that we throw away.

Naturally, we don’t want to risk becoming ill, however, the main thing to remember is that the printed dates on packaging is often no more than a guideline.

The ‘Best before end’ (BBE) is about quality. Foods eaten after this date are unlikely to give their best flavour or texture. BBE dates are generally applied to frozen, tinned, dried foods and eggs. Eating food beyond the BBE date is generally safe providing it has been stored according to the manufacturers instructions.

The ‘Use by’ (UB) date relates to safety, this is the important one. It is applied to short shelf life foods: fresh meat, poultry, fish, seafood and dairy.

Here’s how to avoid unnecessary food waste, which of course, will save you money!

1. Write a list, which helps you to buy only what you are likely to use.

2. Don’t be lured into over-buying short shelf life goods with by-one-get-one-free deals.

3. Planning family meals will reduce left-overs.

4. Check the labelling and store accordingly.

5. Stock rotate cupboards, freezer and fridge.

6. Use your nose, if it smells odd, don’t eat it.

7. Freeze foods which are unlikely to be used before their BBE /UB date.

8. Use plastic boxes for the fridge and freezer and remember to label.

9. Learn to make soup, perfect to eat fresh or pop it into the freezer.

10. Check your fridge and freezer settings and adjust if necessary.

Of course, you can use BBE/UB dates to save money. The big supermarkets reduce prices throughout the day, usually at around 8am, 1pm and between 7pm and 9pm.