topic Best Before Dates in Off-Topic

Best Before Dates

gemz4the1 — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:08:42 GMT

Has anyone had any issues with 'best before dates' in stores?

I recently purchased a packet of biscuits. When I got home I tried one and it didn't taste 100% right. When I looked at the packaging I noticed that it went out of date 3 weeks ago. When I returned it to the store with my receipt, they said that they were allowed to sell items up to 4 weeks out of date - is this correct?

Re: Best Before Dates

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:11:49 GMT

Theirs two types.

Best before means you can still
Consume after that date but it may not be at its prime.

Use by date means it has to be used on or before that date or you could have an upset tummy or worse.

Supermarkets usually ensure their stock is rotated so issue does not occur or sell them off discounted.

Re: Best Before Dates

gemz4the1 — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:18:56 GMT

I thought stores could only sell items that are maybe 2 or 3 days out of date maximum.

Have you ever heard of it being 4 weeks BOB?

Re: Best Before Dates

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:21:48 GMT

Their are places in the Leeds Markets that sell certain dry food items (biscuits, cereal etc) many months out of date, but the point of sale has to state the fact and typically these items are reduced in price.

Re: Best Before Dates

gemz4the1 — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:23:11 GMT

Hmmmmm these were not reduced nor were they marked as being out of date, but I guess it was my own fault for not checking 😞

Re: Best Before Dates

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:25:27 GMT

I always check tbh but the shop is either not rotating their stock and not noticed or have tried to get away with it.

The item really should have been re priced / reduced to show its current condition.

Sometimes you see supermarkets put items separate in reduced shelves.

Re: Best Before Dates

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:28:00 GMT

http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumers/food-labels/label-facts/best-before-and-use-by-dates/#.U_zRYdm9LCQ

http://www.woking.gov.uk/planning/envhealthservice/food/foodsafetyfaq

Re: Best Before Dates

gemz4the1 — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:29:24 GMT

When I took it back into the store today they refused to refund me or replace it because they said they are allowed to sell items 4 weeks after their best before date. When I said I wanted to complain to head office and asked for the number, they wrote down a mobile number. When I called the number the woman told me word for work what the woman in the shop said. But I am very wary because I have looked online and their head office, nor any stores head office number that I have heard of, is a mobile number.

Re: Best Before Dates

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:31:51 GMT

Look at the links.

You can verify with the agencies around food hygiene.

I wouldn't call a mobile number as it could be anyone. Even as most likely here a persons in the same shop.

Use registered e mail contact so you have a paper trail.

Tbh tho it depends on how Much time you want to spend on this.

Re: Best Before Dates

gemz4the1 — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:37:45 GMT

It's not a big issue I was just wondering if anyone has heard of this 4 week rule before.....

Re: Best Before Dates

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:39:10 GMT

"Can a shop sell food beyond its "best before" date?
It is not an offence as such although it would be an offence if the food has deteriorated to such an extent that it was not safe to eat.

BACK TO TOP

What does the "best before" date mean?
The term "sell by" is a common mistake people make when describing food they have bought. "Sell by" has been replaced on labels by "use by" on fresh perishable products and "best before" on stored products.

Food beyond its "best before date" can be sold by shops, however the quality of the product may be inferior to that of an in-date product. It is good practice for shops to have a stock rotation system that prevents food beyond it's "best before" date being sold.The "best before" date places a limit on the period within which food is expected to maintain its quality. It is a date normally applied to shelf-stable foods such as biscuits, crisps, soft drinks, etc. and is sometimes many months in advance. Some foodstuffs may still be edible after the "best before" date has elapsed but the quality of the product may have deteriorated.

Although retailers are not breaking the law by selling food past its "best before" date, they place themselves at greater risk of prosecution under Section 14 of the Food Safety Act 1990. (Sale of food that is not of the quality demanded by the purchaser.) This is a provision of the Act enforced by Trading Standards."

Re: Best Before Dates

gemz4the1 — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:51:28 GMT

Thank you for that info BOB

Re: Best Before Dates

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:52:09 GMT

You're welcome.

I wish you well in your endeavours with this.

Re: Best Before Dates

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:55:08 GMT

That's utter rubbish they have to give you a refund there's no such thing as a 4 week rule

Re: Best Before Dates

gemz4the1 — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:56:52 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
That's utter rubbish they have to give you a refund there's no such thing as a 4 week rule

I've never heard of that rule either.

When I have Googled it, I have found an article saying that some food can be sold which is out of its best best date, however it does not state how far from that date that it can be sold.....

Re: Best Before Dates

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 19:00:24 GMT

It can but has to be clearly marked as such if you just buy it off the shelf then you should expect it to be in date

Re: Best Before Dates

gemz4the1 — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 19:03:32 GMT

I guess it is my own fault for not checking. 😞

Thank you for your responses

Re: Best Before Dates

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 19:15:33 GMT

Well now every time you pick some item up to buy I'm sure you'll Check.

I always check the dates on bread and other perishables.

Re: Best Before Dates

ComaChameleon — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 23:15:43 GMT

Really? 4 weeks? I guess I should check my stuff too when I'm buying in UK.

Here they're not allowed to sell after that date. The stuff gets brought (before the deadline is over) to food banks.

Or just being put into the dustbins. There are many people stealing it from there in the nighttime.