Co-op to sell food past its 'best before' date in bid to cut waste

Goods such as pasta, crisps and rice will be cut to 10p and sold for a further month at East of England Co-op

A major retailer has become the first to start selling food that is past its "best before" date in a drive to reduce food waste.

From this week, the East of England Co-op - the biggest independent retailer in East Anglia - will sell tinned goods and dried food such as pasta, crisps and rice for a nominal 10p once they reach their best-before date. The offer will not apply to fresh and perishable foods, however, which carry a "use by" date indicating when a product is safe to eat.