Sell-by dates to be scrapped.

cleggie

What a fab idea!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14925046

Whats everyone elses thoughts on this?

mymerrywidow

use by dates wont be scrapped though as that is a safety thing.

i do wonder how the likes of approved food,big brands and food bargains will fair though as this is their buisness, selling food out of date.

flippin36

I think its a good idea as I see people on MSE getting confused about the dates. Does anyone think it will effect yellow sticker food? Hope not.

cleggie

Flippin- i wouldnt think so, as the yellow stickers are more to do with use by, not sell by i think, although feel free to correct me if i am wrong!

I dont ever look at sell by dates, as i think they are pointless anyway!!

JayJay14

mymerrywidow wrote: »

use by dates wont be scrapped though as that is a safety thing.

i do wonder how the likes of approved food,big brands and food bargains will fair though as this is their buisness, selling food out of date.

I think most of AF and BB's stuff is 'best before' and this isn't affected by the change.

mymerrywidow

JayJay14 wrote: »

I think most of AF and BB's stuff is 'best before' and this isn't affected by the change.

correct me if i am wrong, but i was under the impresison that everything bar the use by dates were being scrapped.

cleggie

To be fair though, i think they are underestimating the common sense of some people, as they are are saying it will cut confusion and make it clearer as to when the food is safe to eat...but the labels themselves explain it! Use by is obvious, you can use it until that date..although personally the smell test wins everytime in this house!!!

Coopdivi

mymerrywidow wrote: »

correct me if i am wrong, but i was under the impresison that everything bar the use by dates were being scrapped.

Yes you're wrong. From Cleggie's link: 'New government advice says firms should include only use-by or best-before dates and remove sell-by and display-until labels relating to stock control.'

LadyDee

My feeling is that this will drastically reduce the number of bargains to be found in the reduced bin, and increase wastage. If something can now be used by, say, 30th September instead of sell by 30th September, it won't be in the reduced bin on 29th, it'll still be on the shelf for sale at the full price. It'll be in the dustbin at midnight. Mr T and the like must be rubbing their hands at the thought of yet more profits.

Call me a cynic, but this has nothing to do with the public who might get confused by the different dates, it has more to do with big supermarket interests.

Just my humble opinion of course:)

recovering_spendaholic

LadyDee wrote: »

My feeling is that this will drastically reduce the number of bargains to be found in the reduced bin, and increase wastage. If something can now be used by, say, 30th September instead of sell by 30th September, it won't be in the reduced bin on 29th, it'll still be on the shelf for sale at the full price. It'll be in the dustbin at midnight. Mr T and the like must be rubbing their hands at the thought of yet more profits.

Call me a cynic, but this has nothing to do with the public who might get confused by the different dates, it has more to do with big supermarket interests.

Just my humble opinion of course:)

I agree with you completely!

Smidster

This is an absolute disaster for those of us who rely on reductions merely to get by - as frankly this is the end of them.

The main effect I see is that the quality of the produce we buy is going to go down as the stuff on display will be older and I would actually argue more likely to be binned by consumers as when we get it home it will be closer to being 'off' or in the case of fruit/veg squidgy and disgusting.

I took a look around the Fruit/Veg this morning - all Display Until dates so the days of bargain fruit is history - best go to the junk processed stuff then?

Just wish the Government would deal with some of the important things instead of ruining my life by putting food beyond my price range.