Do Aussies think best before dates are for decoration???
Jun 23rd 2009, 8:55 pm
#16
Not dead yet
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Re: Do Aussies think best before dates are for decoration???
They're actually getting rid of these dates in the UK in order to stop food waste.
Jun 23rd 2009, 10:52 pm
#17
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Location: Melbourne
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Re: Do Aussies think best before dates are for decoration???
I never buy ham or cold meats from the deli anymore. MY son has degree and diploma in science and when he was studying he told me about the meat at the deli, said it should be cut for you not sit around cut up like it is. After that I found myself looking at the cold cuts for signs of deterioration. So I always buy it in packets now with a long use by date.
Jun 23rd 2009, 11:10 pm
#18
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Re: Do Aussies think best before dates are for decoration???
This thread made me laugh - even when the product is within its 'best before' date it is quite often 'off'. I have lost count of the times milk from safeways has been off up to 5 days before its best before date. Had that happen yesterday in fact - and I usually only realise after I have poured it on my cereal in the morning and it sits in lumps and blobs, or worse dont realise til it is my mouth.
And trying to get fresh pre-packaged meat in the supermarket is a joke - quite often it is marked as 'use by' the end of the current day without being reduced...I think they wait til 1 minute to midnight before reducing it or something!
And trying to get fresh pre-packaged meat in the supermarket is a joke - quite often it is marked as 'use by' the end of the current day without being reduced...I think they wait til 1 minute to midnight before reducing it or something!
Jun 23rd 2009, 11:51 pm
#19
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Re: Do Aussies think best before dates are for decoration???
I won't comment on the lack of discounting or legal issues with selling products after their best before date.
But...
These dates are often set by regulatory bodies and are more of the arbitrary than real nature.
There are a best before dates on canned foods, when the only two reasons exist for canned food to go bad:
1. Not canned properly (in which case it goes bad very fast, within days or weeks)
2. Damage to the can, either mechanical or after a very long time by rust.
Otherwise that can will be edible 10 years down the track.
Dry goods like pasta, instant coffe, cookies etc do not go magically bad one day after passing their best before date.
As to fresh stuff going bad before the expiry date, happens frequently in some stores for a simple reason: broken cold chain. Milk was not kept cool for all the time, some hardworking soul let it get warm on the loading dock, in the truck or behind the shop.
But...
These dates are often set by regulatory bodies and are more of the arbitrary than real nature.
There are a best before dates on canned foods, when the only two reasons exist for canned food to go bad:
1. Not canned properly (in which case it goes bad very fast, within days or weeks)
2. Damage to the can, either mechanical or after a very long time by rust.
Otherwise that can will be edible 10 years down the track.
Dry goods like pasta, instant coffe, cookies etc do not go magically bad one day after passing their best before date.
As to fresh stuff going bad before the expiry date, happens frequently in some stores for a simple reason: broken cold chain. Milk was not kept cool for all the time, some hardworking soul let it get warm on the loading dock, in the truck or behind the shop.
Jun 24th 2009, 2:23 am
#20
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Re: Do Aussies think best before dates are for decoration???
Well, I had to laugh, but recently I've been to a few small shops selling a variety of food stuffs, that are 'out of date'. Don't get me wrong it's not the fresh stuff, but sugar, pasta, chocolate etc.
Now a few weeks is probably OK for dried goods, but I just wouldn't be prepared to pay full price for them. However I'm not talking a few weeks, or indeed a few months..... I'm talking YEARS out of date!
Are there no rules for the sale of foods past their 'best before' dates. I went to one store and almost every item was out of date!
This is South Australia we're talking about here btw.
Now a few weeks is probably OK for dried goods, but I just wouldn't be prepared to pay full price for them. However I'm not talking a few weeks, or indeed a few months..... I'm talking YEARS out of date!
Are there no rules for the sale of foods past their 'best before' dates. I went to one store and almost every item was out of date!
This is South Australia we're talking about here btw.
I must say though, that the "big boys" never do this as I now check the best-before dates fairly frequently when I shop at Woolworths or Coles. IGA? Well IGA are as IGA does I guess?
Jun 24th 2009, 4:00 am
#21
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Re: Do Aussies think best before dates are for decoration???
It's never happened to me because I never check the date* .
For some items like Coon Cheese - it might improve it and save me having to fork out for a more expensive item.
*I do when buying milk - and haul from the back of the cabinet - hangover from single days when a 3l bottle of milk had a chance to go off - no need now as with pre-schoolers we never have enough milk..
For some items like Coon Cheese - it might improve it and save me having to fork out for a more expensive item.
*I do when buying milk - and haul from the back of the cabinet - hangover from single days when a 3l bottle of milk had a chance to go off - no need now as with pre-schoolers we never have enough milk..
Jun 24th 2009, 5:15 am
#22
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Re: Do Aussies think best before dates are for decoration???
Always check the date on milk and get one from the back of cabinet.
Still not 100% guarantee but there is nothing else that can be done (except tasting some in store and putting the bad ones back).
Still not 100% guarantee but there is nothing else that can be done (except tasting some in store and putting the bad ones back).
Jun 24th 2009, 4:36 pm
#23
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Re: Do Aussies think best before dates are for decoration???
TD
