Stocktakers Venners has warned licensees not to take risks over date labels on food.
The warning comes after a Food Standards Agency survey found that 53% would eat cooked meat beyond its use by date.
"In these times of the so-called credit crunch everyone is looking for ways to cut costs and make savings," said Venners health and safety manager Stuart Knill.
"But when it comes to food, it pays to be safe not sorry. Confusion about date labels could mean that many people are taking significant risks by eating food past its used by safety date. 'Best before' dates on labels are more about quality than safety — so when that date expires it doesn't mean that the food is harmful, but it might not taste as good.
"More important is the 'use by' date, which applies to the safety of food. It can be a health risk to eat food past its 'use by' date. Bugs and toxins which cause food poisoning can't be seen with the naked eye and often have no effect on taste and smell — so even if something does not appear spoiled it could still cause food poisoning."
