M&S shoppers are being asked to now ‘sniff’ their milk after the retailer removed all use by dates from its cartons.

The use by dates are being taken off its British and organic milk ranges as part of efforts to cut down on people’s food waste.

Instead customers are being encouraged to use the ‘sniff test’ to determine if their milk has gone sour along with help from best before dates which will be used instead.

Around 490million pints, worth £270million, are poured down the drain in the UK every year, often because the milk has passed its use-by date and customers are concerned about its longevity.

With the cost of living crisis and food prices continuing to remain sky high, there has been growing pressure on supermarkets to do their bit and help cut down on food waste.

While 'use-by' dates are there to ensure food safety and to protect people’s health - that could be at risk if they consume a product out of date – best before dates are more about quality than any danger associated with eating the item.

This means that items with best before dates can encourage shoppers to use their own judgement – while use by dates should be followed even if the item still looks and smells as it should because hidden bugs may still lead to food poisoning.

Milk consumed after its best before date may not necessarily taste its very best but it isn’t likely to make those who drink it ill.

M&S is not the first to address the use of use-by dates on milk, with Morrisons having stripped them from its cartons last year.

Climate change organisation Wrap has welcomed the move.

In a tweet this morning it said: “Big #milk news, @marksandspencer move from #useby to #bestbefore on British and organic milk. A fantastic step that gives shoppers longer to linger over their litre.”