M&S Use by dates

Stompa

chelms38 wrote: »

Several times I have seen food on shelves for sale that has gone past its sell by date not reduced and I think this may be due to some(not all)of the young staff not checking dates before they stack shelves.

I hope you pointed it out to the staff. I once found some potato salad in Iceland that was more than 6 months past it's sell by date - now that I wouldn't have eaten!

Ellie2758

M&S standards have dropped like a stone in the past couple of years.

chesky369

The consumer bears a certain amount of responsibility. I shop at M&S, Waitrose and Sainsburys regularly. If I find any foodstuffs outside the sell-by date I take it to the customer service counter. It happens every now and again in all of the shops - things are easily missed. I've noticed that both M&S and Waitrose staff are extremely apologetic when this is pointed out - Sainsbury's less so but I think this may be the local managing ethos, not necessarily the country-wide policy. However, when I shop I also leave enough time so that I can happily sort through and get the best sell-by dates, because the food is at its freshest. I may keep it longer - and even past the sell-by date but that's my choice.

geordie_joe

samwardill wrote: »

Absolutely I have double standards. If I pay M&S price for meat I expect quality. My expectation of quality includes having more than 24 hours to consume it (without having to check use by dates on everything I buy).

But you have already stated that food past it's use by date is highly dangerous. How can you then go on to say you don't want to check the use by date?

Do you really wander round the shops believing that if you eat something a minute past it's sell by date you will die?

And if you do, why do you want to leave the checking of these dates to some 17 year old oiyk that's getting paid the minimum wage?

Surely if the use by date is that important to you, you would check it yourself.

samwardill wrote: »

I am sometimes prepared to expect a lower standard (and limited shelf life) but not at the same price!

So, you are prepared to put your life at risk, but only if you get a discount while you are doing it!

Come on, get real. It is your responsibility to check the things you buy. Nobody forces you to buy it, and the dates you think are so important are clearly printed on the product for you to read.

An item with 3 days life left is no different to one with one day left. It is up to you to look at the date and work out if you will eat it before it goes off. If you can't do that then you should look into taking someone shopping with you.

geordie_joe

Mozette wrote: »

All those dates are more a set of guidelines than actual rules.

Well, I was going to reply and tell you that you are wrong, use by dates are set in law.

But, as usual, I checked my facts before posting, and found you are not wrong. So I apologise for nearly telling you that you were wrong

The truth is, you have to have a "use by" date on certain products, but the manufacturer decides what these dates are. There is no law to say a sausage will last 10 days after manufacture, or anything like it.

What the law does say is that "best before" and "use by" dates should be the minimum durability of the product, NOT THE MAXIMUM.

So a "use by" data does not mean the product will harm you if you use it after that date, it actually means "This is the least amount of time you can expect this product to last". It is left up you you to decide how long it has lasted after that date.

For those of you who want to read chapter and verse, here is the link.

Section 20 Form of indication of minimum durability

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1996/Uksi_19961499_en_3.htm#mdiv20

jenniewb

I've seen plenty of out of sell by date produce and I always tell staff if there is a member who seems approachable (not always the case). In M&S they normally take the item away and have a look on the rest of the shelf, at Tescos I find the staff either shrug their shoulders and mention it not being their department, that they are "not doing reductions yet" or occasionally say "thanks" and leave it on the bottom of a green trolley depending on who I ask.

At Sainsburys last week, I found a whole shelf of ham and chicken out of date, ranging from the same day (it was 8pm, store closed at 10pm) to several days prior. The meat had also discoloured. I turned around to see a guy sitting on the deli counter which had been packed up for the night. I mentioned it to him and let him know that stuff was also quite a few days out of date. TBH I was hoping some of it would be reduced so I could afford it! I carried on with my shopping and came back at 9pm to see if anything had been reduced- all still there- with the guy at the counter still sitting watching everyone pass by.

I half wanted to buy some of the out-of-date stock and claim illness (that way I'd be able to afford the full price stuff for some time to come- lol) but I had done my bit, just annoyed that no one listened to me. Its not just illegal to sell out of date food, its also harmful and I was taken a back at the lax attitude the staff member had about it.

littlerat

I have to ask... what would some of you do if you used a proper butcher instead of getting supermarket stuff? Small butchers tend to not have use by dates on their stuff. Same for local free range eggs and fruit and veg shops.

Use your common sense and you'll be fine - besides, most people who get food poisoning are through poor preparation or cooking practises, not out of date food.

Peggy40

Surprised at M&S to be honest! But its not against the law, and whilst I always check "use by" dates, I'll be making extra sure with their produce in future!

moonrakerz

littlerat wrote: »

I have to ask... what would some of you do if you used a proper butcher instead of getting supermarket stuff? Small butchers tend to not have use by dates on their stuff. Same for local free range eggs and fruit and veg shops.

Use your common sense and you'll be fine - besides, most people who get food poisoning are through poor preparation or cooking practises, not out of date food.

Just shows the stupidity of the "nanny state"!

jenniewb

littlerat wrote: »

I have to ask... what would some of you do if you used a proper butcher instead of getting supermarket stuff? Small butchers tend to not have use by dates on their stuff. Same for local free range eggs and fruit and veg shops.

Use your common sense and you'll be fine - besides, most people who get food poisoning are through poor preparation or cooking practises, not out of date food.

I don'y buy meat so I can't really say but I guess its all down to common sense, see the texture of the meat, the colour, any odour and also keep it cool, normally I'd imagine if your not intending on using it in the next 2 or 3 days then ask the Butcher how long it will keep for.