Warning: Cat Food from Pet Planet only a Month before BB date!

Tobs

Just to warn other forum members. I responded to a Pet Planet email by ordering several bags of Royal Canin Cat food last week, as it was on offer (thought I'd be saving money!). However, on receiving the order, I noticed that the Best Before date is mid-January 2014. This makes most of it unusable. This was on offer at a good price, but if there had been any information at all on the website, or on my order confirmation details about the BB date, I wouldn't have gone ahead. I'm now significantly out of pocket. I have complained, but they haven't been particularly helpful so far (will keep you posted on that!). Please do be careful if you order any pet food from them, as you could be caught out in a similar fashion! If you've ordered anything from them recently, I suggest that you check the dates on the food. Very disappointed as I regularly use Pet Planet, and they have been pretty good up to this point!

mountainofdebt

Are you within time to use DSR regulations for returning it?

The only other alternative I can think of if you're not going to use it all is to donate it to the local dog rescue

Tobs

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Are you within time to use DSR regulations for returning it?

The only other alternative I can think of if you're not going to use it all is to donate it to the local dog rescue

Hi there, Returning it would have been an option, as I contacted them straightaway, but I'd have to stump up the costs for postage (very heavy, so would be excessive!). If they refuse any other options I will take it round to the local cat shelter. Still not heard back from them, but we'll see what they come up with.

peachyprice

It has a Best Before date, not a Use By date, it isn't unusable, it will be perfectly safe to feed your cats, just it may not be at it's optimum and the vitamin and mineral content can no longer be guaranteed.

paddypaws101

I agree with Peachy.....it will not be unfit for use.
One thing you can say for dry food is that it has so many blimmin' preservatives in it, that is has a half life of around 10 years!

Tobs

Update - Pet Planet are saying that I can return it if I want to, but it would be "at my own cost" (which would be prohibitive, due to the weight)! I can't believe that they don't have any deliveries taking place in my area, when they could just do a pick up. They also say that the info about the BBD was on the invoice - eventually found this, but as I only received the invoice (paper copy) when I received the order, this isn't any use at all. They also made it as difficult as possible to follow up, demanding that I email them a photograph (!) of the invoice!! Buyer Beware! I won't be using them again.

Tobs

peachyprice wrote: »

It has a Best Before date, not a Use By date, it isn't unusable, it will be perfectly safe to feed your cats, just it may not be at it's optimum and the vitamin and mineral content can no longer be guaranteed.

Thanks for that, but it doesn't appear to have a 'use by' date at all, so I really don't feel I can risk my cat's health with it (they are both elderly). The animal sanctuary I contacted also said they could only use a limited amount, as they can't feed their cats out of date food, due to the same reason.

peachyprice

Tobs wrote: »

Thanks for that, but it doesn't appear to have a 'use by' date at all, so I really don't feel I can risk my cat's health with it (they are both elderly). The animal sanctuary I contacted also said they could only use a limited amount, as they can't feed their cats out of date food, due to the same reason.

You miss the point, the fact that it doesn't have a 'use by' date means that it doesn't go off. It's illegal to sell food that has a 'use by' date because after that it can become dangerous, food with 'best before' can be sold for as long as people are willing to buy it because it will not become dangerous, ever.

The 'best before' date is only an indication of the time a product will be at it's optimum, Long life products like this wouldn't even have had a date on no so long ago, it's not suddenly going to make them ill because a date stamped on the outside has passed, same with human food.

But you obviously don't feel comfortable with that.

moggymutt

It's a very lucky cat sanctuary if they can turn down food that is only just past it's best before date. If we get such food as this then we feed it quite happily along with other food to any of the healthy adults.

Tobs

peachyprice wrote: »

You miss the point, the fact that it doesn't have a 'use by' date means that it doesn't go off. It's illegal to sell food that has a 'use by' date because after that it can become dangerous, food with 'best before' can be sold for as long as people are willing to buy it because it will not become dangerous, ever.

The 'best before' date is only an indication of the time a product will be at it's optimum, Long life products like this wouldn't even have had a date on no so long ago, it's not suddenly going to make them ill because a date stamped on the outside has passed, same with human food.

But you obviously don't feel comfortable with that.

Thanks for that, I do understand what you were saying, but I do agree with the Animal Sanctuary (they were aware that it was BB, not 'use by' date). I get the better quality stuff because of health issues for my cats (both elderly, one with heart & kidney problems) - if its lost many of its benefits due to being out of date, then I don't feel it would be right or fair to feed them it.

pawsies

It hasn't lost much at all! It will not affect their health. You are probably better off feeding it after its best as Royal Canin does not have a best date, it is such a rubbish rubbish food that feeding it fresh is probably the worst thing for your cat.

Feed it, the cats won't notice and won't be affected. We need to reduce waste in this country, not encourage waste. Also that cat charity needs to not be so picky! They should be grateful for anything they receive.