Best Before Dates

[gemz4the1]

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  When I looked at the packaging I noticed that it went out of date 3 weeks ago.  When I returned it to the store with my receipt, they said that they were allowed to sell items up to 4 weeks out of date - is this correct?

[Anonymous]

"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.

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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."

[gemz4the1]

Thank you for that info BOB

[Anonymous]

You're welcome.

I wish you well in your endeavours with this.

[Anonymous]

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

[gemz4the1]

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

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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.....

[Anonymous]

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

[gemz4the1]

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

Thank you for your responses

[Anonymous]

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.

[ComaChameleon]

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.