Use by date

[tiggerblue10]

I bought some cheese spread yesterday but didn't check the use by dates before buying and one of them said 25/01/12 and the other 12/02/12. I know I should have checked the dates myself but should the staff not be date checking on a regular basis?

[EvianBaby]

Im pretty sure its illegal for them to sell food after its use by date.

[ummmm]

They should, yes.

[vodkancoke]

They should definitely be checking the dates. Can you take it back?

[maggiebee]

Would have thought they would be checked, but hey we're all human. Two options - take it back to the shop for a refund/replacement or just eat it. Sealed cheese is OK well past any "sell by" date.

[anneasquith]

return the items and demand a refund. i believe it is illegal, ive seen shops being fined for selling out of date food.

[Robinia]

Yes they should and I often pick them up on it...sometimes, as you say, you forget to check when you're shopping. The fault often lies with the shelf fillers putting the new stock at the front, I've seen them do it.

[tiggerblue10]

I'll be taking them back later. They were on special offer so I thought I'd get 2.

[tiggerblue10]

I was thinking that Maggie being as it was cheese but as the others have said it is illegal and I'm going to take them back and get a refund or exhange them.

[micmak]

Maybe they were on special offer because they were out of date.

[boxtops]

usually the special offers are very close to their sell-by date (not use-by date which is often days or weeks afterwards).. Make sure you still have the receipt to prove you only bought it yesterday.

TBH it's only a couple of weeks ago, the 25 Jan - what sort of cheese is it? If it's hard, we'd still eat in. We've still got hard cheese in the fridge that we bought at new year.

[boxtops]

^ sorry you said cheese spread - that'll be fine to eat, my box of Primula spread always lasts a couple of months beyond the best before date.

[tiggerblue10]

I know it should be fine to eat Box but I was just wondering whether the staff should be checking the dates on a regular basis. Looks like its illegal judging by the replies above if they sell stuff thats gone over the use by date.

[boxtops]

Yes, they should be - most stock is rotated regularly. From a staff training point of view, yes, you should take it back and report it.

[tiggerblue10]

They're on special offer online as well as in store Micmak. The were not in the reduced aisle. If they were I'd understand if it was overlooked.

[boxtops]

Up to you, tigger - if you're going to take it back, do it straight away, in case there are more on sale with the out of date date.

[pastafreak]

It may be fine to eat,but as it is 'use by' as opposed to 'best before',then it should not have been on the shop shelves beyond those dates,if the retailer wants to protect both themselves and their customers.

http://www.bracknell-...best-before-dates.htm

[pastafreak]

It's not illegal-unless food is deemed to be not of a saleable standard....which is unknown if the food is sealed,but why risk customers getting home and discovering an out of date product is inedible?

[tiggerblue10]

Thanks Pasta, I've just read the link and checked the cheeses which have a "best before" date on them. I will be taking them back later today.