Expired perishable foods in grocery stores

[Sunkist]

I'm wondering how common this is- grocery stores continuing to sell food (especially perishable food) past the expiration dates?

This has occurred in nearly every store I've shopped in during the last couple of decades, and it's also a problem when I order items for delivery (through third-party delivery services)- today was the third time one shopper/driver brought me items past expiration dates.

 

[TeePee]

I'm wondering how common this is- grocery stores continuing to sell food (especially perishable food) past the expiration dates?

This has occurred in nearly every store I've shopped in during the last couple of decades, and it's also a problem when I order items for delivery (through third-party delivery services)- today was the third time one shopper/driver brought me items past expiration dates.

It's very common I've noticed in recent years. I'm religious about checking expiration dates for that reason. Sometimes they don't have expiration dates. I won't buy them either. I've found a lot of times, the staff doesn't know the dates when asked. I don't have non perishables delivered to my house. They don't deliver where I live, but if they did, I would be afraid they would send me things that are expired or getting ready to expire. I like picking my own fresh vegetables and fruit since I'm able to.
I do have a question...what would prevent a store or egg distributor to take expired eggs and place them in a container with a current expiration date? We'd never know unless we did the water test and who does that?

 

[Pinky]

@Sunkist

When you put in your order, is there a place where you can specify "please check expiration dates"?

 

[Sunkist]

@Sunkist

When you put in your order, is there a place where you can specify "please check expiration dates"?

Yes.. and because this one shopper brought me expired food twice before, I always add 'please check expiration dates.' and she still didn't!!

 

[Sunkist]

It's very common I've noticed in recent years. I'm religious about checking expiration dates for that reason. Sometimes they don't have expiration dates. I won't buy them either. I've found a lot of times, the staff doesn't know the dates when asked. I don't have non perishables delivered to my house. They don't deliver where I live, but if they did, I would be afraid they would send me things that are expired or getting ready to expire. I like picking my own fresh vegetables and fruit since I'm able to.
I do have a question...what would prevent a store or egg distributor to take expired eggs and place them in a container with a current expiration date? We'd never know unless we did the water test and who does that?

These days, it wouldn't surprise me!!

When I shop in person I always check the dates on everything.

 

[CaliS]

It has happened to me many times, and I am very diligent about checking expiration dates. Recently purchased dairy that was not past the date, but when I opened it - it was spoiled.

Very frustrating, but I have no doubt they do try to remove expired products from the shelves ... except meat -- I hear they paint that!

 

[TeePee]

It has happened to me many times, and I am very diligent about checking expiration dates. Recently purchased dairy that was not past the date, but when I opened it - it was spoiled.

Very frustrating, but I have no doubt they do try to remove expired products from the shelves ... except meat -- I hear they paint that!

I've even pointed out to some of the grocery employees items on the shelves that are past their expiration dates. Never have I seen them remove them from the shelf unless they did it after I left.

 

[seadoug]

It has happened to me many times, and I am very diligent about checking expiration dates. Recently purchased dairy that was not past the date, but when I opened it - it was spoiled.

Very frustrating, but I have no doubt they do try to remove expired products from the shelves ... except meat -- I hear they paint that!

I frequently buy pre-packaged salads to make for lunch. Because they are shredded lettuce combined with toppings it is more difficult to tell the quality. I recently bought a couple that had expiration dates that were a couple of days in the future. When I opened them the lettuce was almost slimy. One of them I had to dump down the disposal. I couldn't take the chance.

I do find the "chopped" salads that include things like cabbage, romaine, kale, broccoli stalks, etc. tend to stay more fresh.

 

[astralcat]

I've even pointed out to some of the grocery employees items on the shelves that are past their expiration dates. Never have I seen them remove them from the shelf unless they did it after I left.

Most grocery employees are in a minimum wage job and some have the attitude “they don’t pay me to do this” and unless directed by the manager will not remove anything from the shelves.

 

[Lavinia]

Don't you have laws about this? In Britain, shops are fined if they are found to have goods past their sell-buy date on shelves.

 

[Jules]

When I shop in person I always check the dates on everything.

Me too, if I can find it. Sometimes it’s dark print on a dark lid or really teeny tiny print that blends with the label.

 

[Aunt Bea]

Me too, if I can find it. Sometimes it’s dark print on a dark lid or really teeny tiny print that blends with the label.

I agree, finding those dates can be a real challenge.

The more they try to hide them the harder I look!

I check them in the store and also find them helpful once I get the products home.

 

[GoodEnuff]

Please allow me to clarify "expiration dates". Mostly, they aren't "expired". Those dates state "BB" or "Best By". These are arbitrary dates chosen by ??. All canned goods have them, although I have seen a very few where either I couldn't find the BB date or there wasn't one. I have canned goods in my pantry that have that Best By date of 2022 and guess what? They are fine. Had canned peaches last night with a BB date of 06/2023. They tasted fine and here I am.

Produce that hasn't been processed, like a head of lettuce versus a bag of chopped lettuce, does not have an expiration. Nor do they have a Best By date.

I am more concerned about the source of food. Look at the labels on your produce in the US. Most is imported from countries where pesticides, fertilizers, handling processes are not regulated. As a teen, I worked picking fruit at local orchards. The conditions were indescribably awful. And the label "Organic" is a joke.

 

[Sunkist]

Please allow me to clarify "expiration dates". Mostly, they aren't "expired". Those dates state "BB" or "Best By". These are arbitrary dates chosen by ??. All canned goods have them, although I have seen a very few where either I couldn't find the BB date or there wasn't one. I have canned goods in my pantry that have that Best By date of 2022 and guess what? They are fine. Had canned peaches last night with a BB date of 06/2023. They tasted fine and here I am.

Produce that hasn't been processed, like a head of lettuce versus a bag of chopped lettuce, does not have an expiration. Nor do they have a Best By date.

I am more concerned about the source of food. Look at the labels on your produce in the US. Most is imported from countries where pesticides, fertilizers, handling processes are not regulated. As a teen, I worked picking fruit at local orchards. The conditions were indescribably awful. And the label "Organic" is a joke.

Thank you- good info!

However, the items still shouldn't be sold in the stores past those dates.

 

[Sunkist]

Don't you have laws about this? In Britain, shops are fined if they are found to have goods past their sell-buy date on shelves.

I don't know, never heard of this.

 

[GoodEnuff]

Thank you- good info!

However, the items still shouldn't be sold in the stores past those dates.

Used to be that if you found an "expired" item, it was free. I remember once checking out and the couple ahead of me had dozens of cans of food and were showing them to the checkout clerk, pointing out there was no charge for them. Smart.

 

[IrishEyes]

I don't know, never heard of this.

Yes they have rules/laws about this in the States. Usually when a product reaches it's BB date they go on sale for 2-3 days, then
are supposed to be disposed of. That is done by the efforts of the staff. As my DH can attest, there is always some clerk too lazy
or distracted to clear them. DH is always following around one certain clerk at his store for skipping over this process.
The store, like everything else is "as only as good as it's employees".
I know this because he comes home gripping about this one clerk constantly as it means more work for him.

 

[Sunkist]

From what I've seen, the problem seems to be the employees overstock- too much of most items- and then don't bother to check/remove them when they're not sold.

 

[GoodEnuff]

From what I've seen, the problem seems to be the employees overstock- too much of most items- and then don't bother to check/remove them when they're not sold.

Or those items were stored for a long period of time in a warehouse somewhere, then sold/shipped to the retail store.

Edit to Add: A possibly/probably rat infested warehouse?

 

[IrishEyes]

From what I've seen, the problem seems to be the employees overstock- too much of most items- and then don't bother to check/remove them when they're not sold.

Don't be hesitant to let the store manager know when you see several items that need to be removed so they can know which clerk is
not doing their job and replace them if necessary. Especially in produce, those clerks run their tails off back there just doing their own
scheduled work and managers listen to customers quicker than an employee tattling on another employee.

 

[Sunkist]

Or those items were stored for a long period of time in a warehouse somewhere, then sold/shipped to the retail store.

Edit to Add: A possibly/probably rat infested warehouse?

I don't know about the warehouse topic, but I have noticed excessive quantities of individual items that they couldn't possibly sell by the date.

RATS??

Also, while it's not relevant to the sell date, some of the stores also have the habit of leaving perishables in aisles for extended periods of time instead of getting the items into refrigerator/freezer.. this can result in food spoiling even if it's not at the sell date!
I contacted numerous managers about this in the past, nothing was done, so I figure it's not worth the effort.

 

[CaliS]

I frequently buy pre-packaged salads to make for lunch. Because they are shredded lettuce combined with toppings it is more difficult to tell the quality. I recently bought a couple that had expiration dates that were a couple of days in the future. When I opened them the lettuce was almost slimy. One of them I had to dump down the disposal. I couldn't take the chance.

I do find the "chopped" salads that include things like cabbage, romaine, kale, broccoli stalks, etc. tend to stay more fresh.

Yes, I have noticed if I buy regular lettuce, usually romaine - it stays longer than if I buy the prepared kind. It's really a shame the preservatives they put into food don't work on the human body - I'd be so well preserved I might live to 120!

 

[CaliS]

I've even pointed out to some of the grocery employees items on the shelves that are past their expiration dates. Never have I seen them remove them from the shelf unless they did it after I left.

Wow ... that's terrible!!