M&S Use by dates

geordie_joe

Stompa wrote: »

I'm not sure that's always the case. I have on many occasions simply opted not to buy something because the only ones available had short dates.

I know it's not always the case, especially when you are doing a monthly shop and are not sure which day you will actually use the product on. But in this case we are talking about a packet of mince to be used the day after purchase.

for example if you're going to use some mince the next day, then the one going best it's use by in 2 days, is just as fine as one with 4 left.

chuckley

depends on time of day it was bought. if b4 3-4pm then full price.

however who goes by use-by's anyway?! i know I dont.

samwardill

It seems that the environmental lobby is also on my side. Apparently DEFRA believes that 80% of food thrown away by supermarkets could be prevented if supermarkets discounted earlier!

Wee_Pilsbury

The one bit of consumer advice that really convinced me that there is no substitute for using your nose and good old common sense is the warning you get on lots of packaged food to " freeze on day of purchase."

I love that one and have yet to figure out how exactly the food knows what date it is. :rotfl:

Sometimes for a bit of excitement I've been known to wait until the next day before chucking it in the freezer

zenseeker

Wee_Pilsbury wrote: »

I love that one and have yet to figure out how exactly the food knows what date it is. :rotfl:

It's called science.

It's down to years of testing to establish how long items tend to last assuming they are stored correctly.

Wee_Pilsbury

zenseeker wrote: »

It's called science.

It's down to years of testing to establish how long items tend to last assuming they are stored correctly.

You've missed my point! The food can't know what date it was purchased! For example, I buy the sausages on the Monday and the pack says freeze on day of purchase. Then on the Tuesday, you buy a pack that's been sitting on the same shelf in the supermarket. The pack still says freeze on day of purchase (and let's presume both packs have the same use by date). We are both being told to freeze on day of purchase but you will have purchased a day after me!:cool:

geordie_joe

zenseeker wrote: »

It's called science.

It's down to years of testing to establish how long items tend to last assuming they are stored correctly.

No it's not, Wee Pilsbury was referring to the "freeze on day of purchase" and asking how the food knows what day it is.

What he/she means is, how does the food know it's been purchased. If an item is on a supermarket shelf on Monday, and you buy it but keep it until Tuesday before freezing it, the food isn't going to know, is it?

The "Years of testing" only comes into play if you buy it on the "Use By" day.

Any

I have to say that I personally agree with everything everyone else said about the "it won't turn into poison the moment clock strucks midnight" and other, but in this part I agree with Sam...:)

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

However I know that supermarkets don't have to put the price down until the last moment of shop opening hours on the day, or indeed they don't have to discount at all - they can throw it away...

...and so I always check and pick either the best/freshest looking food or look for the latest sell by date...