The Channel 5 TV show, which airs tonight at 8pm, purchased 10 food items in three different Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco stores.
It then bought the same items online from the supermarkets.
The team, working alongside Leeds Beckett University, logged the use by, best before, sell by and display until dates on each of the 10 items for each store.
They found that shopping in-store can seemingly give shoppers longer expiry dates than shopping online.
Particularly important when people are stocking up on food for the festive period now.
What did the researchers buy?
- Own-brand sprouts
- Potatoes
- Mushrooms
- Apples
- Grapes
- Chicken breasts
- Organic semi skimmed milk
- Double cream
- Fresh orange juice
- A loaf of sliced white bread
When it comes to individual supermarkets, Sainsbury's fared best with an average online shelf life of 7.7 days – the same as in-store.
Next up was Tesco with an average online shelf life of 6.2 days compared with 6.3 days in store.
Asda followed with an average online shelf life of 5.8 days compared with 5.9 days on average in store.
Morrisons came in last place with an average online shelf life of 5.3 days compared with 6.9 days in store.
Asda says it always tries to pick the longest possible dates for online shops, while both Asda and Morrisons say they make the shelf life of online items clear.
An Asda spokesperson said: "Our colleagues will always try to pick products with the longest possible date codes while we provide information, such as our website date pledge, to help customers make the best choices when they shop online."
A Morrisons spokesperson said: "We tell our customers how much life they can expect on online products and all the ones you selected had at least as much life as we guaranteed."
The Sun has contacted Sainsbury's and Tesco and we'll update this story if we get a response.
If you're stocking up for Christmas, Morrisons' £2 mince pies topped BBC Good Food’s blind Christmas taste test.
Meanwhile, Co-op’s £20 bottle beats Moet in a similar blind Champagne taste test.
Do Jack’s and Tesco products taste the same? Our Bargain Hunter puts them to the test.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 78 24516. Don't forget to join the Sun Money's Facebook group for the latest bargains and money-saving advice.
Source: Read Full Article