An innovative designer has found a simple solution to the date labelling debate, using cash from her victory on Deal or No Deal.
East Midlands designer Lyndsey Young is using the £15,500 prize fund from her TV show winnings to create a new Count On It labelling system.
Following the announcement of a new range of measures to improve the date labelling of food in a bid to cut Britain's mountain of food waste by DEFRA secretary of state Hilary Benn last week, Young hopes to solve the issue with the new system.
The scratch-off food freshness labels show at a glance if food is still fresh and safe to eat, or if it should be thrown away.
Only 'use-by' dates currently signify a potential food safety concern, but research has shown that 'best before' (intended to be a mark of quality) is often mistaken for a safety warning. Sell-by dates are used by retailers for stock control - but often end up confusing consumers.
Young said: “I would use things like pesto, where you take out a spoonful and put the rest in the fridge. Preparing food for [my children], you want to make sure the ingredients are fresh. But time and again I would forget when I had opened a jar and end up throwing it away. I didn't know how long it had been in the fridge and I didn't want to risk it.
"The labels help to reduce food waste - an important issue, with estimates that the average family throws away up to £610 worth of edible food each year."
Business Link, the government support service, has been providing Young with advice to help her turn her venture into a success.