UK supermarkets are gradually removing expiration dates on some perishable items for better judgment by shoppers. And while retailers claim this move will save customers money and reduce waste, marks a new spin in consumers’ grim battle against runaway inflation.

Asda, Co-Op, Morrisons, Waitrose, Tesco Plc and Marks & Spencer Group Plc have announced a complete or partial cessation of their traditional expiration dates and best-before dates on certain products, in some cases using scannable codes that can be used by staff control store to dispose of expired goods.

Morrisons started the trend removes the mark from 90% of its own brand of milk, and encourages shoppers to use the “sniff test” instead. Asda retailer is the latest to switch, removed the expiration date on nearly 250 fresh fruit and vegetable products starting September 1.

Waitrose supermarket chain too will eliminate the best date before nearly 500 fresh produce, including tubers, fruits and houseplants, starting in Septemberwhile its rival M&S will eliminate more than 300 rows of fruit and vegetables in his shop.

All supermarkets are committed to reducing food waste along with their announcements of changing labeling policieswith Co-Op, which omitted expiration dates on private label yogurt, citing waste as a key driver.

However, while retailers have tried to portray the policy change as an environmentally conscious move, the change has come against a darker backdrop in the UK, where the media started suggesting that Britons with inflation issues should consider eating expired food.