A Christian-run foodbank in Essex has urged people to only give food which is still in date, after it received a donation of pasta which went out of date nearly

Volunteers at Colchester Foodbank were routinely checking dates on food and weighing them when they discovered packets of macaroni and mashed potato which dated as far back as 1977.

Michael Beckett, manager at the site on Moorside Business Park, told the East Anglican Daily Times (EADT): "We do get donations that are out of date more often than we would like."

Please check the #BestBefore date!
We can't use OUT OF DATE food.
Today's #Pasta & #Mash #donation 40 years too #old!
#Colchester #foodbank pic.twitter.com/TUVLCQKolO

— Colchester Foodbank (@colchfbank) October 2, 2017

The pasta arrived on a day when the foodbank was handed more than one tonne of items. Staff are at a loss as to where the packets came from.

Mr Beckett went on to say: "If it's not safe for human consumption we cannot give it out. We do what we can with fruit and vegetables, but we have got to protect the health of those we're giving food to."

Colchester Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust, a charitable network of church-led foodbanks which gave out 1.2 million three-day emergency food supplies to people in need in the last financial year.

Speaking with the EADT, Mr Beckett continued: "We get out of date food fairly regularly but most of it isn't and it's fine. It happens a few times a week."