Right or wrong - online butcher

Ivrytwr3

We've bought from the same online butcher (Donald Russell) for several years and never had any issues. On this occasion, we spent just under £100 and several of the packs of meat/ready meals were dated as, 'frozen Aug 22' and 'Best Before Aug 23' - as the items arrived 17 Mar 23, the Best Before is approx 4/5 months away, losing 7 months of use (we get them frozen as we would eat/use throughout the year). Most of the items in the order arrived with Best Befores of 2024.

To me this was an issue, so i contacted customer service, who firstly wanted photos of the items i was referring to and then said as the items still had 'several' months of use left, they are not short-dated and therefore, sorry, not sorry.

We've not had this before with them, so not sure if this is normal business or they have just unloaded older stock onto us.

Aylesbury_Duck

Does it matter? "Best before" is just an advisory note. The meat won't immediately become inedible on that date. I can't see how you lose seven months of use. Just eat things in the order of expiry.

As for consumer rights, you have none that apply to this specific situation, unless their terms specifically say all products have at least 12 months before the BBE date, or similar.

Ayr_Rage

"Best before" does not mean that they are unfit to eat after that date, frozen ready meals especially will be fine if kept at the recommended -18c or below for much longer.

Just eat the shorter dated items first and enjoy the rest well into next year.

No business in their right mind is going to send anything apart from their oldest stock out first.

As I have used DR many times, my guess is you have bought some of their deals, which they don't do out of the goodness of their heart, but to clear older stock.

My personal opinion is that you are making a mountain out of a mole hill,

Ivrytwr3

These weren't on offer, but full price. 

Ivrytwr3

Their frozen food is fantastic - regularly buy from them. However, we have tried a frozen meal from them that got stuck at the back of the freezer and forgotten about and was past the bb date - it wasn't good.

As for 'eating in date order', we do. We have stuff still to eat, this was a restock and so were expecting these to last a lot longer. 

Sarahspangles

Freezing allows producers to harvest or slaughter at the point of maximum yield, before they incur the cost of growing produce under cover or overwintering stock.  It’s possible if you’d ordered in September you’d have got the same items.  Maybe they’re offering discounts now because it costs more to run the freezers now the weather is improving!

user1977

Ivrytwr3 said:

Their frozen food is fantastic - regularly buy from them. However, we have tried a frozen meal from them that got stuck at the back of the freezer and forgotten about and was past the bb date - it wasn't good.

As for 'eating in date order', we do. We have stuff still to eat, this was a restock and so were expecting these to last a lot longer. 

But they didn’t specify it would last a minimum length of time?

km1500

Do you have a right to return them ? If so, that is what I would do and explain why.

Altior

Sorry this is absurd! Of course they have done nothing wrong.

Ivrytwr3

Sarahspangles said:

Freezing allows producers to harvest or slaughter at the point of maximum yield, before they incur the cost of growing produce under cover or overwintering stock.  It’s possible if you’d ordered in September you’d have got the same items.  Maybe they’re offering discounts now because it costs more to run the freezers now the weather is improving!

These weren't on offer and usually if a product is short dated, they state that on the website - there was no mention. 

If I was buying run of the mill frozen produce from Iceland and it only had a couple of months left I'd let it slide. But we're buying from a premium butcher (not cheap!) I do expect the quality/duration of the product to last much longer

Ayr_Rage

Just under £100 isn't going to get you much at DR.

As for the meal at the back of the freezer, food does not miraculously self destruct at the "best before" date, it must have been overlooked for a very long time.