A decision by Sainsbury's to change the information on its printed labels to stop food going to waste has been hailed by the government.
The retailer is removing the recommendation to freeze items on the day they have been purchased to freezing them any time before the use-by date.
Lord Taylor, the environment minister, was quoted by BBC News saying this shows common sense from Sainsbury's and will help people reduce their outgoings.
"It's good news for hard-pressed family budgets," he noted.
The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has also commended the decision, as it could stop families throwing away thousands of tonnes worth of food that is still perfectly safe to eat.
Consumer food waste prevention manager Andrew Parry described this as a "welcome move" by Sainsbury's, as people will be more aware they can enjoy items stored in their fridge "at a later time" if they are "about to go out of date".
WRAP believes households waste about £50 each month throwing away food that is suitable for consumption.
Denny Bros Ltd, 10 February 2012
