Can QR codes stop the rot?

QR codes may replace use-by dates on products after it emerged more than half of Britons have purchased food that is out of date.

- BY JAYMI MCCANN

Some 51% of shoppers said they bought such products without knowing it, according to research from barcode and data management company GS1 UK.

Its survey of 2,000 people also showed the average person bins £17.90 of shopping a month - around £214.27 every year.

Almost half said food they purchased had gone off before they could use it and 72% said food getting close to its use-by date should be donated by supermarkets.