Past their sell-by date

I was delighted to note that the recent change of advice from Sainsbury’s regarding the removing their “freeze on the day of purchase” advice threw up a good deal of Common Sense all over the internet. Basically they’re now saying you can freeze food on any day up to the best before date.

gohunter has something to say about this! And his ex wife.

gohunter My ex-wife used to throw things out regardlessly as soon as they reached their use by date. She'd never think to open them and smell, or use common sense. Absolute lunacy and one reason why she is my EX-wife ;-)

Lunacy indeed! And it’s a good thing you managed to get rid of her before she emptied the damn thing of chicken that was barely even turning green. Wasting food indeed - Next Wife please! One with the common sense to sniff food she finds in the fridge. Jeff Martin, meanwhile, has no such problems:

Jeff Martin I live on my own, so everything I buy is split into portions and frozen in those plastic tubs you get from takeaway shops or the bags that are freely available in the fruit section. A little bit of forward planning, and the food I need for the day is brought out of the freezer in the morning. It's hardly rocket science.

Thanks for that Jeff. Food for thought with the tub idea (not least the free bag tip!) and a fascinating insight into your daily life as an amuse-bouche. Meanwhile, thinker1214 is on the cutting edge of experimental eating-of-things-that-might-be-off.

thinker1214 I always use four methods nose, tongue, stomach and bum if any of them get upset (and i survive) i know better for next time. worked for me so far the date system generated extra purchases for shops and meant little to the consumers experience of the food. As the date system has been around for years wouldnt the older generation have started this throw away culture?

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, eh thinker? What more foolproof method could there be of finding out whether food is safe to eat than eating it? As my Grandmama used to say, "It's worth sacrificing your gastric health to avoid having to buy fresh vegetables." Interesting point about throwaway culture being the fault of baby boomers too - here’s a counterpoint from Rodney:

Rodney Evan Jones The statistic that the average family wastes about £50 worth of food each month is amazing. Anyone over 65 years of age will not be included in that figure as we grew up in times of austerity after WW2. My Dad taught us that wasting food was a sin and that has stuck with me my whole life. It is good to knock up a meal using leftovers in the fridge from time to time and I would commend this.

Bloody well right we’re not to blame. For anything. We didn’t have bananas, you see. Couldn’t get em. So we don’t waste food. And you clear your plate or it’s a sin, and I believe that to this day. The story is about when to freeze food before it goes off. But I’m talking about. I’m talking about finishing. Your food.

Particularly. PARTICULARLY if it’s off. Because of the bananas, you see? Scarcity.

Anyway, Schoolies has another take on the news:

schoolies As a confirmed bachelor I need no interference from the Nanny state that is Sainsburys. I am quite an expert already on the four major food groups;Fast, Frozen, Instant, and Chocolate

Ha! You old tease. Good to see you out there, sticking it to the man. They say “Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"

Schoolies is living that dream, skidding in sideways, reduced-to-clear prawn cocktail in one hand - travel mug of instant chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "I'll brook no interference from Sainsburys!"

A role model for us all!