Supermarkets removing dates from fruit and veg

[Essan]

Mould that is not seen in bread can be very bad to eat. If it is seen on outside it probable all way through but not seen. Better to put in freeze then toast from there or make sandwitch

The sliced bread I used for my (bacon) sandwiches today was bought before Christmas ..... (I have no idea what the sell by/use by/eat by/best before by or any other date it had as it's something else I never look at - but I'm guessing it's proabably at least a week past it) It's a little stale, but that's all. I'm actually more concerned about just how/why* bread stays fresh for so long these days than any mould it might have!

* it's all in the additives ....

 

[ABB125]

I generally ignore best before dates, though when there's a choice I always go for the furthest date (eg: taking stuff from the box below the one on the top). Use by dates I'm generally happy to go a day beyond, though I always aim to cook/eat it beforehand. As always, a visual and nasal inspection are key!

 

[TheSel]

Supermarkets Removing Dates from Fruit and Veg​

Where in the store are they going to offer them for sale, then, if not amongst the fruits and vegetables?

Dates ARE fruits. Fact. End of.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Supermarkets Removing Dates from Fruit and Veg​

Where in the store are they going to offer them for sale, then, if not amongst the fruits and vegetables?

Dates ARE fruits. Fact. End of.

See what you did there! Berry funny! (Which is what you might get if you can't work out the use by date!)

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Supermarkets Removing Dates from Fruit and Veg​

Where in the store are they going to offer them for sale, then, if not amongst the fruits and vegetables?

I don't think the dates are on sale. As far as I'm aware, they're still being sold at the normal price

 

[Crossover]

I fully agree with removing dates from fruit and veg. As far as I'm concerned, it's simply common sense and I'm perfectly capable of determining when something really is past it.

If tomatoes are getting a bit over-ripe they'll go a bit squishy and wrinkled, but there's nothing wrong with them and they're perfectly good for pasta sauces or soups. I only chuck them when they start growing furry stuff and then they'll go in the compost bin.

The problem is that some people see the date as an absolute limit, beyond which the food is not fit for consumption. I've seen friends throw out perfectly good stuff because it's a day or two past the use-by date and it's incredibly frustrating to watch. The other issue is that shops aren't allowed to sell anything beyond a use-by date so if it doesn't sell, even after a price reduction, it gets wasted. I believe that's why the "display until" date was introduced - it gives staff the signal to start reducing prices so that the product has a chance to sell before it ultimately has to be thrown away.

If you absolutely must have a date, it should be a "best before".

I agree with you - I find some items of produce can still appear to be fine for weeks after the BB date

I wonder if it's an attempt to do away with reducing prices to clear the stock on or close to its Best Before date, which is common on fruit and veg in packaging.

I would suggest not as I have seen un-dated produce reduced in the shops before (and as others have said, they are dated, just not so obviously)

Our eldest in particular - he will not touch anything after its marked best before date

I know people who do similar - I can understand how we end up with so much food waste as a nation.

The other one that irks me is the "use within x days of opening" as for some, it is followed rigidly, also leading to a lot of waste (and wasted cash!)

I think it was Morrisons that took the lead in using best before dates on milk (previously use by) and I believe the current thinking is that use by should only really be used on stuff that could potentially cause harm if used past the date, ie meat and poultry.

The milk thing is also a great idea IMO as it can also be fine for some time after the date given (my OH pointed out the other day (a couple of days before new year) that I had drunk a cup of tea made by one of their family members with milk that was dated Christmas Eve. Didn't curdle, no problem )

 

[DelW]

I agree with you - I find some items of produce can still appear to be fine for weeks after the BB date
......
The milk thing is also a great idea IMO as it can also be fine for some time after the date given (my OH pointed out the other day (a couple of days before new year) that I had drunk a cup of tea made by one of their family members with milk that was dated Christmas Eve. Didn't curdle, no problem )

I bought two tubs of extra-thick cream from Sainsbury's yesterday, reduced to 1p each as their "best before" (not "use by") date is today. I'll be surprised if I don't manage to use up both of them before they go off (though at that price it won't matter if I do have to ditch some ).

 

[busestrains]

I agree that's frustrating. But surely the solution is to put more effort into teaching people what best-before and use-by dates mean and how to use them properly. For my part, I'm well aware that those dates are approximate and that they depend, amongst other things, on how you store the stuff after you've bought it blah blah. I don't throw things out that are still clearly good to eat. But nevertheless, in my experience the best-before dates are usually reasonably accurate (within a few days for very perishable items), and they do provide a useful approximate guide that helps me avoid wasting food (for example, by leaving it too long, or buying more than I can eat in time). You seem to be suggesting that, because some people don't understand how to use best-before dates, you should deny everyone access to that information - even those people who do understand how to interpret those dates.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jan 2023 ==



I'm not sure they have 'use by' dates on them. This thread is talking specifically about 'best before' dates (which are the ones that indicate the quality may drop after that date, although the food is probably still safe to eat). I can only recall seeing 'best before' dates on fruit/veg - before the supermarkets recently started removing some of them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jan 2023 ==



Thanks, that is very useful. But are you sure you're naming the correct supermarkets. I just checked a few of my labels, that A3/D15 system you describes seems to be on ASDA stuff but not Sainsburys stuff (I don't currently have anything from any other supermarkets to check)

Yes i think you are right. Sainsburys definitely use to use this format but looking at the packaging they no longer seem to. It seems that they have removed this code on the packaging now so there is no way to tell. Tesco and Waitrose definitely still use the two methods described above though as i have just checked the packaging to confirm.

 

[david1212]

... But on the other hand i have had fruits and vegetables go bad before their expiry date. ...

Trouble is many types of fruit and veg sit in warehouses in cold storage before reaching the shelves so you’ve really no idea how fresh the product is.

Another point is that how long fruit and veg will last after purchase will depend on time of year, weather and where they are stored. Potatoes will turn green or start sprouting much sooner in summer when left in dfirect sunlight than if stored in a dry cupboard out of the sun in winter. Apples will last all winter long if properly stored - but can rot or shrivel in days under different circumstances.

From Tesco finding a very soft / rotten apple or orange in a pack of 5 / 6 well before expiry date is far from occasional. Overall Aldi seem to handle fruit better.

I shop once a week so want to buy fruit that still good week later.

 

[class68fan]

From Tesco finding a very soft / rotten apple or orange in a pack of 5 / 6 well before expiry date is far from occasional. Overall Aldi seem to handle fruit better.

I shop once a week so want to buy fruit that still good week later.

If frute has been bashed before or after buying it will go manky. Better buy seprate and inspect before buying. No plastic waste too.

 

[Russel]

The fact that we've had to put best before dates on fruit and veg says a lot about the IQ of the average person in this country.

 

[Darandio]

The other one that irks me is the "use within x days of opening" as for some, it is followed rigidly, also leading to a lot of waste (and wasted cash!)

Agreed, gets on my nerves this.

Take this jar of jalapenos in front of me. It consists simply of Jalapeno chilliies, water, salt and vinegar yet they want me to throw them out after 14 days of opening! Why? Pickled chillies aren't going to kill me 3 months down the line but if you can make everyone think they will and buy every couple of weeks you've got a sound business plan!

 

[david1212]

If frute has been bashed before or after buying it will go manky. Better buy seprate and inspect before buying. No plastic waste too.

Easier said than done. Where loose is offered generally there is a price premium. At Aldi bananas are an exception as loose price for 5 is similar to a pack of 5.

The fact that we've had to put best before dates on fruit and veg says a lot about the IQ of the average person in this country.

This ignores the time from picking to appearing on the shop shelf. Even coded as readable to those involved it encourages minimising transit and warehouse storage time plus at the place of sale getting the oldest to the shelf rather than last delivered.

 

[DelayRepay]

I always work on the basis that there's at least a day's margin of error built in so things will usually be fine the next day at least, subject to the smell test. How far beyond a day I go will depend on the type of item - fruit and veg I ignore the date but I am more careful with chicken and fish.

I go much further beyond dates than that with everything but prawns. The sniff test is the key.

Ah - I didn't mean I throw stuff away after a day. I meant I'll buy stuff knowing I won't use it until a day after the date printed on the pack. If I have stuff in my fridge that's passed its date, I try to use it up but I only chuck it if it's gone bad.

I am proud of how little food I waste. Since my food bin was last emptied before Christmas the only things I have chucked away are tea bags, peelings and egg shells. I just had a strange tea of pigs in blankets(!) and a fried egg. The pigs in blankets apparently expired on New Years Day and the egg became toxic in mid-December. So if I never post again, you know why!

I live alone so have a similar issue. I find that using a brown paper bag, wrapped up tight, in a dark & cool cupboard for your pots, onions, squash, sweet pots etc means these veggies last for ever.

That works for me for everything except potatoes. They go bad no matter what I do - I've even tried buying a special potato storage bag, and tried storing them outside in the garage where it's cooler. Nothing works for me.

On the other hand, I have the remains of a big bag of onions I bought for 50p on Halloween for hot dogs. They're still absolutely fine.

 

[Bald Rick]

Genuinely surprised that anyone pays attention to use by dates on fresh fruit and veg. No one in my family ever has! As long as it’s broadly the right smell and, ahem, firmness, then it’s good to use.

 

[tomuk]

Genuinely surprised that anyone pays attention to use by dates on fresh fruit and veg. No one in my family ever has! As long as it’s broadly the right smell and, ahem, firmness, then it’s good to use.

Arrgh. Fresh fruit and veg doesn't have use by dates on it! It does\did have best before dates. Meat, fish, diary and prepared pulses\rice have use by dates as these can be dangerous if eaten when too old.

 

[306024]

When people bought their fruit and veg from the local green grocer it was all loose, no best before dates. We all survived.

Exactly! Our local market stall sells better quality fruit and veg than any supermarket, with a bit of banter thrown in for free

 

[Siemens Trains]

The milk thing is also a great idea IMO as it can also be fine for some time after the date given (my OH pointed out the other day (a couple of days before new year) that I had drunk a cup of tea made by one of their family members with milk that was dated Christmas Eve. Didn't curdle, no problem )

I usually find this is the case too. But sometimes I've witnessed clumps of congealed material floating on the eagerly-anticipated tea when using freshly-opened milk taken from my fridge expiring on that day. This can be something of a disappointment if it's the only container of milk available. I don't know why this happens but maybe it's to do with how the milk was stored in the shop before purchase.

Not exactly the end of the world, but I'd like to have some kind of warning that the milk is at risk of being on the turn so that I could prepare accordingly. I find the dates offer a useful guideline, and I'll tend to avoid shopping at Morrison's if they're no longer offering an indicator of milk freshness.

 

[ABB125]

Regarding "once opened, use within...", I generally ignore them, apart from meat and dairy products. For these, I'm generally happy to go a day over (possibly two), depending on smell/sight tests as usual. Not usually a problem though, as the stuff I buy is either in small quantities so never lasts that long, or half of it goes in the freezer to be consumed many weeks hence. Milk is the exception to this: a 4 pint bottle lasts me about 7 days, therefore that's how long it is open for! From experience it tends to go a bit off after 7 days anyway...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

But sometimes I've witnessed clumps of congealed material floating on the eagerly-anticipated tea when using freshly-opened milk taken from my fridge expiring on that day. This can be something of a disappointment if it's the only container of milk available. I don't know why this happens but maybe it's to do with how the milk was stored in the shop before purchase.

Worth checking the temperature of your fridge; if milk is stored too warm this can happen - the fridge may still feel cold, but maybe it's not as cold as it should be. It could of course equally well be the shop has kept it too warm, but always worth testing your fridge - the milk going off too soon is usually the first warning of a fridge problem developing.

 

[najaB]

I live on my own, which means I don't get through some stuff as quickly as a family would. With that in mind, I usually check the best-before dates so I can judge whether I'm likely to be able to eat something in good time, and adjust what I buy accordingly. But if there's no date, I can't do that.

What's wrong with looking in the fridge to see what's there?

 

[davehsug]

There were mouldy Clementines on sale in Morrisons last Friday, and more than once, I've alerted staff to out of date milk & bread on the shelves, Their stock rotation is appalling. Many years ago (mid 70's), my first job was at a small Tesco supermarket. It was one of my jobs to check the fruit & veg every morning befoe we opened, removing anything not good, and if there was a dodgy apple or orange in a bag say, to rebag them, removing the bad ones.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

What's wrong with looking in the fridge to see what's there?

How does knowing what's in my fridge help me if I'm in the supermarket, looking at - say - a bag of tomatoes, figuring that it'll take me about - say - 10 days - to eat them all, and wanting to check the best before date before I decide to buy them to see if it's likely that they'll still be any good in 10 days' time?

 

[najaB]

How does knowing what's in my fridge help me if I'm in the supermarket, looking at - say - a bag of tomatoes, figuring that it'll take me about - say - 10 days - to eat them all, and wanting to check the best before date before I decide to buy them to see if it's likely that they'll still be any good in 10 days' time?

Maybe it's just me but I also shop for one and only ever buy "a bag of" if there's no option to buy exactly how many I need. If I know that I only have one tomato in the fridge I'll buy two or three more.

 

[dk1]

The sliced bread I used for my (bacon) sandwiches today was bought before Christmas ..... (I have no idea what the sell by/use by/eat by/best before by or any other date it had as it's something else I never look at - but I'm guessing it's proabably at least a week past it) It's a little stale, but that's all. I'm actually more concerned about just how/why* bread stays fresh for so long these days than any mould it might have!

* it's all in the additives ....

Had you kept that bread in the freezer before using it for the bacon sandwich?

 

[Essan]

Had you kept that bread in the freezer before using it for the bacon sandwich?

No, just in a bread bin. It was sliced bread though (Warburton's 50/50)

 

[Bantamzen]

I don’t take any notice of best before date in regard to when I eat fruit and vegetables. I just use common sense as to whether they are ok to eat or not. The tomatoes that I currently have in the fridge are quite a few days past the best before date but are still perfectly ok to eat. Like others living on my own I quite often don’t get through some packs of fruits and veg very quickly. Although I am quite happy to eat these items well past their date, because I sometimes don’t get through packs very quickly, I do always like to make sure that they are well in date when I actually buy them. If best before dates are not clearly shown it is not so easy to determine those on the shop shelf which are the freshest at the time of purchase.

Is the correct answer. We've managed for as long as our species has existed to teach the next generations when fruit & veg is good to eat, and when it is not. So what has gone wrong in recent years?

 

[dk1]

No, just in a bread bin. It was sliced bread though (Warburton's 50/50)

Oh my days. I cannot comprehend eating bread that’s been out for nearly a fortnight not even for burnt toast. I think idve just had bacon.

 

[DelayRepay]

Oh my days. I cannot comprehend eating bread that’s been out for nearly a fortnight not even for burnt toast. I think idve just had bacon.

I'm surprised it hasn't gone dry, but if it still looked and felt fresh I would eat it. I often eat bread that's past its use by date because I live on my own and can't use a full loaf quickly enough (and before anyone points it out, yes I know you can freeze it which I sometimes do). Don't think I've ever had a loaf last more than two weeks, though.

In the summer when it's warm I keep my bread in the fridge. I don't have a radiator in my kitchen so it's cold in the winter, which helps keep things fresh even when they're not in the fridge. And this is a reason why some 'use by' dates aren't helpful - if I buy apples that say use by 15 January, is that based on me keeping them in a fruit bowl in my warm living room, or in the cold kitchen, or in the fridge?

 

[Essan]

Oh my days. I cannot comprehend eating bread that’s been out for nearly a fortnight not even for burnt toast. I think idve just had bacon.

It was all I had left ..... and to be honest, normally I would only have used it for toast - of thrown it out for the birds. But with some greasy bacon and ketchup it was fine! I just checked the bag it came in (I keep them to use as rubbish bags) and the best before date was 23 Dec