Could saving money be a health hazard? A recent poll shows consumers are ignoring use-by dates on food to save quid on groceries, the Guardian reported.

Many are also keeping leftovers in the fridge for longer than the recommended two days, putting them at a higher risk for food poisoning.

According to the poll results, 97 percent believed their food expenses had increased significantly in the past three years, causing about half (47 percent) to try to use leftovers more cost-effectively.

“With most of us seeing our weekly shopping bills increase over the last few years, we are all looking for ways to get the most out of our shopping budget,” says food safety expert Bob Martin. “Using leftover food is a good way of making our meals go further. However, unless we’re careful, there’s a chance we can risk food poisoning by not storing or handling them properly.”

On food labels, “use by” denotes the date foods will become unsafe to eat, whereas “best before” refers to food quality and “display until” assists the shop with stock management.

This information was taken from an article by Rebecca Smithers, consumer affairs correspondent for the Guardian. Read her original article here.

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Poundy

Old-fashioned in nature but sophisticated in thinking, Poundy is happy to offer his words of wisdom to anybody interested in Pounds to Pocket — behind the shapely moustache lies an abundance of knowledge.

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