The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned consumers against eating food past its use-by date or switching off their fridge and freezer to cut costs.
The food safety watchdog, who operates in the UK, said people were “taking risks because of financial pressures” caused by rising energy bills amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
This year alone, a variety of major UK retailers have scrapped their best-before dates on many fresh products in a bid to reduce food waste, but the FSA suggests use-by dates should still be followed where possible.
A survey conducted by the watchdog found that 32% of respondents had eaten food past its use-by date at least once in the past month, while 18% had turned off a fridge or freezer to reduce energy bills.
The FSA survey also found 40% of consumers were worried about being able to afford food in the next month.
“We know many people are worried about food affordability right now and our evidence shows that people are finding ways to save money where they can,” FSA chief executive Emily Miles said.
She added: “It’s not a good idea to turn off the fridge or eat food past its use-by date as these things can lead to a higher risk of you becoming ill with food poisoning.
“Keeping your fridge cold enough, 5C or below, will prevent bacteria from multiplying on your food and make it last as long as it can.”
