M&S Use by dates

samwardill

I've always assumed that if I buy some fresh food I should expect to have a day or so to consume it. I bought some sausages yesterday from M&S. I came to use them today and they were out of date. I thought that this must be a mistake by M&S so I contacted their customer service. I would have at least expected them to reduce items sold on their use by date. They said it was their policy to sell at full price even on the use by date. Does anyone else think this is a shoddy practice?

Stompa

I'm note sure I'd go as far as describing it as shoddy, I've seen other retailers do the same. Personally I always have a look through to find the pack with the longest date.

If it's only 1 day out I'd have no qualms about eating them.

dazzle21

Our Sainsburys never reduce anything until the evening when stuff is out of date - about 2hrs before closing. So, no sadly i think you have to put this one down to experience.

moonrakerz

samwardill wrote: »

I've always assumed that if I buy some fresh food I should expect to have a day or so to consume it. I bought some sausages yesterday from M&S. I came to use them today and they were out of date.

It doesn't actually turn to poison the moment the clock strikes midnight .................

samwardill

moonrakerz wrote: »

It doesn't actually turn to poison the moment the clock strikes midnight .................

True but this sends mixed messages. The idea of a use by date (as oposed to a best before date) is actually based on the assumption that it is unfit to use after the use by date. It is illegal to sell after a use by date. How long after a use by date is it fit for consumption? Would you feed a vulnerable person (e.g. a baby) food after a use by date?

　
The following information has been taken from the Food Standards Agency Website
What do ‘use by’, ‘best before’ and ‘display until’ mean?

'Use by' means exactly that. You shouldn't use any food or drink after the end of the 'use by' date shown on the label. Even if it looks and smells fine, using it after this date could put your health at risk and cause food poisoning.

HouseHuntr

samwardill wrote: »

Even if it looks and smells fine, using it after this date could put your health at risk and cause food poisoning.

But the chances are it probably won't and you won't notice the difference especially if in a sealed package !

HouseHuntr

samwardill wrote: »

I've always assumed that if I buy some fresh food I should expect to have a day or so to consume it. I bought some sausages yesterday from M&S. I came to use them today and they were out of date. I thought that this must be a mistake by M&S so I contacted their customer service. I would have at least expected them to reduce items sold on their use by date. They said it was their policy to sell at full price even on the use by date. Does anyone else think this is a shoddy practice?

So you're not really bothered that it's close to the use by date, you just wanted them cheaper and would have then probably used them after the use by date! Does getting them cheaper mean the quality will improve ? No I thought not !

Double standards ?

thatguy1

Why didn't you just check the date when you picked them up & go for the longest date possible?

geordie_joe

samwardill wrote: »

True but this sends mixed messages. The idea of a use by date (as oposed to a best before date) is actually based on the assumption that it is unfit to use after the use by date. It is illegal to sell after a use by date.

Yes, but as has been said already, it doesn't turn to poison at the stroke of midnight.

Use by dates are deliberately set short and the product is usually good for a time after the date.

samwardill wrote: »

How long after a use by date is it fit for consumption?

Different things last different lengths of time. I have, many times, eaten spuds two months after the use by date on the bag. But I would never eat a sausage that long after the use by date, unless it had been in my freezer since before the use by date.

samwardill wrote: »

Would you feed a vulnerable person (e.g. a baby) food after a use by date?

That question is both pointless and childish. The OP gave no indication that she intended to feed the sausages to a baby, so why ask someone else if they would feed them to a baby? That's the sort of question children come up with when they find they can't justify themselves.

But since you asked, I would if it was only one day. As I said, use by dates are deliberately set short to protect the most vulnerable. jic they eat the food a day or two after the use by date.

　

samwardill wrote: »

The following information has been taken from the Food Standards Agency Website
What do ‘use by’, ‘best before’ and ‘display until’ mean?

'Use by' means exactly that. You shouldn't use any food or drink after the end of the 'use by' date shown on the label. Even if it looks and smells fine, using it after this date could put your health at risk and cause food poisoning.


They could hardly say anything else could they? They can't insist on use by dates then tell people to ignore them.

moonrakerz

There was a programme on television a while ago where a TV reporter was eating stuff that was WELL, WELL past its sell by/eat by dates.

Some of it looked absolutely disgusting - I would have thought twice about even putting it in my dustbin !

He suffered absolutely NO ill effects. The food was also tested in a lab and this showed no signs of anything harmful in the food.

We have gone completely over the top on this subject - why does my jar of pickled onions tell me to keep them in the 'fridge after opening ? - complete and utter stupidity !

samwardill wrote: »

using it after this date could put your health at risk and cause food poisoning.

A typical piece of H & S claptrap:-

How about:- "using your car could put your health at risk and cause death or injury" - just as meaningless.

Stompa

moonrakerz wrote: »

There was a programme on television a while ago where a TV reporter was eating stuff that was WELL, WELL past its sell by/eat by dates.

That was this chap:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1024879/The-best-challenge---One-man-boldly-goes-use-dates-food.html