Posted on 12/04/2017 6:44:42 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
A supermarket chain has become the first big retailer to sell food that is past its "best before" date to cut down on food waste.
From now on, shoppers at the Co-op's 125 East of England stores will be able to buy a range of tinned goods like beans and as well as dried foods such as crisps, chocolates, cereals, nuts, cake, coffee, tea, pasta and rice for 10p.
The move forms part of the chain's The Co-op Guide to Dating, and runs with the slogan: "Don't be a binner. Have it for dinner!"
Best before dates are about quality - not safety - and food is safe to eat after this date but may be past its prime, according to the Food Standards Agency.
It estimates the UK throws away seven million tons of food each year, the majority of which could have been eaten.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.sky.com ...
The terms are defined very specifically. Do a little googling.
Good for them. Arbitrary dates mostly.
It’s now a race to see who’s the first to get sick, so they can sue the grocer.
I laugh out loud at the best used date on our SALT!!
I thoroughly enjoyed some eggs on Saturday that “expired” November 20.
I work for a chemical company. All of our product have a shelf life but that’s basically the extent we will honor the warranty. We know that product will remain good and usable up to that point. Beyond that, it’s not guaranteed, but also likely. If it comes out of the package, it will work.
I’ve eaten eggs and yogurt beyond that. Lol. I’m still kicking.
I once ate a MRE that was 14 years past its expiration date.
Funny you should say that as I just sent this video to a friend yesterday. This guy samples old ones...within reason:
"...MRE 14 years past..."
Having once worked in the grocery business, there is a difference between the “sell by” and a “use by” or “best if used by” dates.
From what I recall a “sell buy” or even a “best if used by” date factors in that the product will not necessarily be consumed right away and is perfectly fine for consumption assuming that you’re aren’t going to keep it long term and even the FDA says they are safe to consume.
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/food-product-dating/food-product-dating
I would be hesitant to buy meats and poultry or seafood or some dairy products at or past the sell by date in most cases unless I’m going to go straight home and use or cook it right away, but for many boxed dry items, cereal, flour, dry beans, pasta, etc., and most jarred and canned goods, they are fine and are often so well past the labeled date.
You just have to use common sense. If the lid of the jar or the can looks bloated or looks severely dented or damaged, or when you open it, it is very discolored or has a strange odor, don’t eat it!
Heck I’ve even purchased chicken and beef that looked fine and was well within the sell by date but when I got home and opened the package, it was either slimy and or smelled off, prompting me to return it to the store for an exchange or refund.
When I was the dairy manager for a grocery chain, I recall the Kraft sales person coming in one time. We had run a big sales promotion on Kraft cheeses and ended up being over stocked so 6 months later had to pull a bunch of “American cheese” and Velveeta or more accurately “American food like cheese products” off the shelf because it was past it’s sell by date. The salesman gave the store a credit for the expired cheese but then told me that it was still perfectly good to eat and that if I wanted it, to take otherwise he was going to put it into the store’s dumpster.
So I took a bunch, several crates worth. Some I kept but the rest I donated to a local church run woman’s shelter and food bank.
LOL goto youtube and watch stevemre1989
classic...drinking chocolate from the 1950;s korean war, smoking cigarettes from then. only time he got sick was eating a modern one LOL...
he eat some hardtack from the American Civil war.
remember the word
get this out on a tray...
Niiice...
comedy gold...
Wish the US would allow this again. We used to have what we called the bent can store. It was always a surprise what was in an unlabeled can. But it was cheap.
Our grocery store used to be able to put out those “best buy” dated items on tables and pallets for anyone to take for free. You could also ask for bruised produce “for the goats or rabbits.” But not after all the government regulations. It got down to the store only being able to donate the old bread to the nursing home. The nursing home couldn’t use it all so they’d put it out on the curb for free. Now, everything must be tossed in the garbage. Such a waste.
You made me go look at our eggs. Two dozen are best used by tomorrow. Well, that ain’t happening. Ask again in a month.
If you’re not a smoker, just use your nose. The original God given “expiration date”.
Also, if you keep your fridge below 40, things will last far longer than the date stamped. I think the dates are intended for “worst case” fridges. Likely 50 degrees
Eat yogurt all the time with ten days expired date
That’s about it. A friend sometimes gives us duck eggs from his farm. I’ll have to ask him about expiration dates.
I grew up on turkey eggs. The neighbor couldn’t sell the double yolk ones to the commercial buyer so everyone in the neighborhood got free double yolk turkey eggs.
Fun toy - let turkey eggs or any larger egg dry out. The yolk will usually stick to one side or an end making it heavy on one side. Then roll is across the floor. It wiggles and wobbles!
You can freeze eggs. Just whisk them up and load them into ice trays.
Curious...What happens to expired honey? Or more importantly, me if/when I eat it?
I have some honey I just use for baking and don’t think much about the freshness dates with backing supplies—unless something looks weird, then I pitch it out...
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