rustynickel's Blog

The expiration date on somethings is just a "sell by" date on others.
Like scotty said, when it comes to perishable items always check the dates.
You can always bring it to the attention of the store manager.

I WORKED AS GROCERY STORE MANAGER FOR MANY YEARS ,WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN THE GROCERY STORE BUSINESS THIER WAS ABOUT EIGHT THOUSAND DIFFERENT ITEMS, AS THE YEARS WENT BY WITH NEW ITEMS,AND NEW INNAOVATIONS IN FROZEN FOODS AND NEW VARIETY'S IN DRY GROCERIES THIER IS ABOUT 80,000 THOUSAND ITEMS IN THE AVERAGE SUPERMARKET. NOW STORES DONT WANT OUT OF DATE MERCHANDISE BECAUSE IT CUTS INTO THHE PROFITS BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP OUT OF DATE MERCHANDISE OFF THE SHELF TO KEEP FRESHNESS, MOST OUT OF DATE MERCHANDISE IS ACTUALY STILL GOOD FOR A LONG AFTER THE EXPERATION DATE.BUT WITH THE DATE IF YOU LOOK CLOSE IT SAYS BEST BY THIS DATE.THE LAST EIGHT YEARS OF MY JOB I WORKED FOR MINYARDS AND EVERY WEEK THEY ASSIGNED A DIFFERENT SECTION TO BE CHECKED FOR DATES AND EVERY SIX MONTHS ALL THE DATES WERE CHECKED.OUT OF DATE MERCANDISE NOT ONLY LOOKS BAD TO THE CUSTOMER BUT THE HEALTH DEPT WILL WRITE YOU UP FOR OUT OF DATE GROCERYS.

LesleyAnne --
Bravo for you! Shows that you are a good shopper. Now I'm wondering, do stores fail to "rotate" their products in hopes that those who may not speak the language might just go ahead and purchase the products without knowledge that they may or may not be within a quality purchase date?
I would be interested in learning more about the news story you mention. That would really fuel some fire in the hearts of some people.
Also, if the "HEALTH DEPT." writes up a store, as Superman states, for having products which are out of date, looks like it must be pretty important or there are some sort of government requlations governing same. If it is, why are there still so many items on shelves that are not within the "Sale By" date? I'm betting that you wouldn't find many outdated items in a Starbucks or at the Galleria, huh?

I bet you won't find any dates on things in a Starbucks.

I recently got 1/2 gallon of orange juice that had an expiry date on the day that I purchased it. I didn't notice it until a few days later, but the OJ was still good. I didn't get sick.

Just about the only thing that I worry about expiry dates on, is dairy and meat products.

I buy nothing that is even close to the expiration date. Might not make us sick but i'm not taking that chance.

If you don't care whther its in or out of date (non-perishables)and you notice while in Albertsons, bring it to the mgr attn... they usually offer a discount

Like THAT's gonna happen, if they can get it sold at a profit.

O.K. I think I understand this mess. It seems that about 70% of you could care less if a product that is produced by a major manufacture is within it's quality of freshness. I will give you that. Others seem to think that it is the responsibility of the comsumer. O.K. That I will give you also. Others seem to feel that the under paid, overworked, non-appreciated company associates who stock the shelves are the ones who are responsible for out of date foods. This could be very true also. However, I'm of the belief that the sole reason for all of this is pure CORPORATE GREED. The companies place a gigantic amount of pressure on the management of these stores to produce huge "bottom line" profits. Mark-downs cut drastically into a stores profit picture. Yet in many cases the corporate uppers force feed the stores with products over and above any amount which they could possibly sell within the time limits of the products. Hah! Think I might have hit upon a real reason for out of date products still sitting on shelves.....been talking to some grocery store managers for the past few days. Learn a bunch when you talk to those who are affected.

I must be notorious for doing this multiple commenting business, does that miff anyone? (hope not-so tell me)

Rusty "f it is a useless bit of information lets take it off the packages and save the expense of printing it on there in the first place."

In many cases that's that corporate greed you mentioned. The ill-informed are sent back out to the store to $pend some before it's necessary. People could live off our land fills I am positive. In other countries I've read that milk last longer because it's not pastuerized. David Sedaris once wrote that in France, they "let the milk sit on the shelf until they sell it as cheese" too funny. I think.