A mum has shared the secret behind cryptic codes recently appearing on supermarket food packaging – with shoppers praising the tip as “amazing”.
Gemma Bird, 42, from Essex, is also known as ‘Money Mum’ and regularly shares money-saving tips while encouraging other parents to take part in ‘No Spend’ and ‘Make Money’ days.
The mother-of-two published her first book, Money Mum Official: Save Yourself Happy, in 2022, which became a Sunday Times bestseller, before launching an Instagram account to help others save money.
Bird’s latest money-saving tip, posted to her @moneymumofficial account on May 13, has been applauded by supermarket shoppers for being “amazing”, as the mum explains the mystery behind the new codes printed on packaging. agricultural products.
The video, which offers viewers a “hack” for buying fresher foods, shows the mother documenting a trip to the chilled aisle of her local Tesco supermarket.
Gemma Bird, 42, from Essex, also known as ‘Money Mum’, regularly shares money-saving tips while encouraging other parents to take part in ‘No Spend’ and ‘Make Money’ days.
Bird’s latest money-saving tip has been hailed by supermarket shoppers as “surprising” as the mum explains the mystery behind new codes printed on produce packaging.
Picking up a bunch of Tesco brand leeks and asparagus, both sealed in plastic containers, Bird points to a code printed where the best before date usually appears.
Since the best-before date is nowhere to be seen, the money-saving expert explains that the cryptic code is now used to indicate when food expires.
The product is stamped “F22,” and the mother decodes it as “F,” which is the month the item will expire, while “22” is the actual day.
Since “A” represents the first month of the year, January, in this case, leeks expire on June 22.
Bird believes the new codes can allow for less food waste while giving shoppers the opportunity to buy fresher food.
More than 400 people shared their thoughts in the comments, and some once-bewildered shoppers were finally able to decipher the mystery behind the codes, while others explained the reason behind the new Best Before Dates replacement.
One person wrote: “I didn’t know this was wondering what those numbers are for, thanks,” while another said: “Always the best advice.”
A third commented: ‘This is amazing! It was really bothering me not to know how old the vegetable was when it doesn’t have a date!
Since the best-before date is nowhere to be found, the money-saving expert explains that the new code printed on food packaging is now used to indicate when products expire.
More than 400 people shared their thoughts in the comments, and some once-bewildered shoppers were finally able to decipher the mystery behind the codes.
One person asked: ‘Does anyone know why they changed a simple logical system to something where you have to count through the alphabet? Or is it just me standing there doing it?
Another responded: “It’s designed to stop people throwing away perfectly good food because it arrives on the date posted on the package.” The codes are intended to be an indicator to staff of stock rotation, not to the customer.
A second confirmed: ‘These dates are to help with stock rotation and reduce waste. Many people do not consume food because of a date on the package. Fresh produce can last for months, especially if stored correctly!’
Sharing their own method for spotting ‘fresher’ produce, one person wrote: ‘I always pick up the bottom/back produce. It is usually cooler.
Meanwhile, shoppers are being fooled by misleading supermarket signs and labels – such as “Made in Britain” stamps – that disguise imported food as British.
