Supermarket out of date smoothie

m4dh4tter

Hi, looking for a bit of advice please.
On Friday last, 3rd Sept I went supermarket shopping to one of the cheaper shops,(not sure if I am allowed to name them).

Today I went to get a drink of the Smoothie I purchased with the shopping and thought I had better check when it has to be used by once opened.

I had already opened it on the day of purchase and both myself and my 2year old Grandaughter have been drinking it since.

I was horrified to discover the use by date is 23/8/10, it was 12 days past its date when I purchased it.

As I still had the receipt I went back to the store this evening.I first checked the same stock, and discovered loads with the same use by date of 23/8 still on sale.

Armed with two cartons from there display and my 3/4 used one, I spoke to the assistant Manager (only one available). He offered to exchange my carton of Smoothie and nothing more, he didn't appear at all concerned.
I told him that I expected more and I would keep my carton and take it up with trading standards.
I then added 'infact I shall go and buy another one to prove they are still on sale' with that he rushed over to the counter and started stripping it of all the Smoothie's, no more words were exchanged between us and I was unable to purchase another one, I left with my original Smoothie.

I was not at all rude nor was he, he was quite polite but not apologetic.
What I expected from him was at least this, plus a 'we will investigate why this happened' and maybe get my name and address.
I am not looking to be compensated financially but 'good lord' I gave this drink to my toddler Grandaughter.

Just looking for views on what would you do ?
Thank you.

Googlewhacker

my view is get over it.

I could understand getting stressed if this was a massively common occurance but considering a supermarket will have tens of thousends of lines and for all of the checks they can do these things sometime will happen and you'd be better of worrying about other things.

Hintza

Nothing apart from possibly taking it back.

I would probably sniff it and then just drink it.

gordikin

I'd take the offered exchange and would have forgotten about it by the time I'd reached my car.

pcombo

Your not gonna die
Your not gonna get any money from them
Your not gonna win any court case

If the product was being sold at full price and out of date then i would complain, but since its on a sale why not.

Sambucus_Nigra

m4dh4tter wrote: »

Just looking for views on what would you do ?
Thank you.

I'd just chuck it in the bin and check the labels next time.

And smell things before you use them; it's the best way to tell.

If you don't use your senses, how many things to do you think you have eaten/drunk without knowing it was out of date?

m4dh4tter

pcombo wrote: »

Your not gonna die
Your not gonna get any money from them
Your not gonna win any court case

If the product was being sold at full price and out of date then i would complain, but since its on a sale why not.

It is /was for sale at full price, not on offer.
Do not want money (I have plenty thank you) and not interested in a court case.
I simply asked 'what would you do'
How do you know what effect it would have by drinking it so far out of date ?

gordikin

m4dh4tter wrote: »

....How do you know what effect it would have by drinking it so far out of date ?

Have you felt any ill effects?

pulliptears

It wont kill you.
It wont kill your Grandaughter

Mistakes happen. The shop as you discovered were happy to replace the smoothies. What exactly was the 'more' you expected?

pimento

I think the sell by dates are quite conservative so I think you were safe to drink it.

I had a similar thing happen in Asda with a pack of Dorset Cereals muesli. It was a couple of months out of date and I didn't notice until I was halfway down the pack (it tasted alright).

Next time I was in Asda, I saw that they still had some out of date muesli (same type) and I pointed it out to the assistant. I was given a refund and a £5 voucher which I thought was pretty good bearing in mind that I didn't have a receipt.

I actually went on to finish the box of cereal that was out of date. Very nice it was too.

m4dh4tter

I can't understand why some of your reply's are so negative, all I asked was 'what would you do'.

It is illegal for a supermarket to sell past 'use by date'

The very reason they have a use by date is because it deteriorates and can become harmful if consumed.

It is not the same as a sell by date.
The item I purchased was from the chiller 12 days past its use by date, my mistake for trusting the supermarket and not checking.


Thank you to those that have given your honest opinions.