Marks & Spencer said in a statement that the change will come into action from this week and shoppers can expect to see ‘use by’ dates on fresh milk changed to ‘best before’ dates.

M&S is now the first retailer offering ‘best before’ dates on fully recyclable milk bottles, following its removal of coloured plastic caps on milk earlier this year in its bid to “help customers tackle food waste and play their part in a circular economy”.