So much supermarket veg are in plastic bags now and the use by dates are terrible, they are usually only a few days ahead. Potatoes grow eyes really quickly even when kept in the dark. No, before you say something, I don't mean I'm keeping secrets from them!
Yesterday I made soup, and ratatouille, out of veg that was well out of date including veg that was reduced to about 10p when I bought it a week ago. Even the tin of tomatoes was 9 months out of date. When you think of the undated tinned stuff taken on expeditions that was eaten years later, we should be alright. Eggs which lasted for ages sitting in one of those chicken shaped baskets on the counter now have to be kept in the fridge and eaten within two weeks! We survived in the past. Too much food waste because of dates.