The debate about which foods should go in the fridge has been officially solved

I don’t know about you lot, but I put most food in the fridge, if I can fit it in. I might leave the pasta out, maybe, or a stock cube, but everything else - chuck it in the cold box, make it chilly, that’s what I say.

But for most people, it’s difficult to know which exact foodstuffs to put in the fridge, so this is why the government are going to introduce specific labeling to help. It’s all in an effort to reduce food wastage, which costs us *quite* a lot of money every year, so they’re aiming to cut 350,000 tonnes of domestic food waste, worth £1 billion, by 2025.

As it stands at the moment, ‘use by’, ‘display by’ and ‘best buy’ advice on packaging is deemed to be too confusing, leading to food either being chucked away prematurely, or being allowed to go off as a result of varying dates. So basically, the government’s food advisory body, Wrap, have worked together with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the environment department to introduce new guidance, to help this tired old planet out a bit.

Environment minister Thérèse Coffey says: “We know that confusing labels can contribute to food waste by suggesting that edible items need to be thrown away sooner than is necessary.

“This new guidance will make packaging much clearer for consumers, saving money and reducing waste. I encourage all food businesses, large and small, to use this guidance to help them put the right date mark on food and help guide people on the refrigeration and freezing of products which are crucial to reducing the amount of edible food thrown away.”

But alongside this important change, fresh produce will also carry a ‘little blue fridge’ icon, from next year. This basically stops you from standing in the middle of your kitchen, fruit in hand, head switching between the fridge and the cupboard like you’re watching a really slow and tedious tennis match, and forces you to head straight for the big white wardrobe.

So now you just look at the icon, and you stick your shit in the fridge. It’s very easy.

If you fancy going even colder, then your standard freezing logo will be replaced with ‘freeze before the date shown’ advice, particularly on fresh meat. Say goodbye to wasted steak, basically. 

This is all very good and music to my hungry ears, because long have I been telling people that they should put their Haribo in the fridge, and long have I been ridiculed. Now, they will know the truth.

So while I’m here, I thought I’d list a couple of other things that absolutely, 100% belong in the fridge, just in case you can’t wait until the new icons come into force:

• Ketchup (actually, all and every condiment)
• Bread
• Chocolate
• Tomatoes
• Baked beans
• Eggs
• Butter (even though it makes it unspreadable)
• Avocados
• Marshmallows
• Grapes
• Wham bars
• Gherkins
• Your keys, by accident

Seriously, marshmallows in the fridge are absolute babes.

(Image: Unsplash)