Expiration Dates

I bought a carton of apple juice last night from the shop. I poured a glass of it later in the evening and it tasted vile. I later looked at the carton and seen it expired 6 days ago. I felt ill all night and most of the day,having bad stomach cramps So I went back to the shop today to tell them about it, and the guy there didnt seem to think it was a big problem,he said "well it was on sale", so i said so what,it expired 6 days ago! the lady behind me heard this and interuppted to tell him he was being rude and how its wrong to sell it. he then started speaking his language to the manager saying some stuff, so i went over to the mananger and explained the problem, the manager had said,its good to drink within 15 days of the expiration date,but if i still wasnt happy i could get a refund.

I really dont think this sounds right, fair enough,if a shop wants to sell expired foods,but shouldnt they have a sign around it says "out of date"? I dont care about a refund,it was only a quid,but its just the principle of it

It's one thing to sell stuff that's a day or two away from it's expiration date on sale (we used to put all our little yogurts down to half price two days before they were going to expire at my old work).  But once something hits the date we removed it from the shelves.  Sometimes it was still OK (we gave it to staff and the risk was then theirs, most would eat it that day, no later), but *never* to customers.

In the UK, I don't know what the law is, but I'd be surprised if you were allowed to sell anything that had already hit the expiration date.  Good for you for letting the manager know you got sick from something, maybe he will think twice about it next time.

You may want to contact Trading Standards on this one. Anything that is past it's 'sell by' date CANNOT be sold to the public. Andee is correct that it can be sold to staff only (as my husbands work - He's a trading manager at a Co-Op supermarket - does this on occaision when beer or spirits go out of date, but NEVER To the public).

According to the Food Standards Authority it is illegal for shops to sell food after their 'use by' date, but not illegal to sell after their 'sell by' date. Also, if it was a 'best before' date it is not illegal.

Www.eatwell.gov.uk/asksam/foodlabels/asksamlabellingrules/

I would file a complaint with the FSA if it was the 'use by' date that had passed. Heck I'd complain anyway, you got sick and they didn't care.

Hope you are feeling better now.

X-posted with WebyJ

According to the Food Standards Authority it is illegal for shops to sell food after their 'use by' date, but not illegal to sell after their 'sell by' date. Also, if it was a 'best before' date it is not illegal.

Www.eatwell.gov.uk/asksam/foodlabels/asksamlabellingrules/

I would file a complaint with the FSA if it was the 'use by' date that had passed. Heck I'd complain anyway, you got sick and they didn't care.

Hope you are feeling better now.
X-posted with WebyJ

the use by date was the 6 days! the best before date was about 8 days.  i feel a bit akward complaining to the fsa because i go there every day ,sometimes 3 times a day (its about a minute walk from our house). so if i complained about the apple juice,they will know its me

Andee is correct that it can be sold to staff only (as my husbands work - He's a trading manager at a Co-Op supermarket - does this on occaision when beer or spirits go out of date, but NEVER To the public).

Gosh, we had it *given* to us!

Gosh, we had it *given* to us!

I think the last time this happened my husband got me a 6 Miller Genuine Draft bottles for 6p each! Because it's alcohol they *must* charge something.

But if it's biscuits/crackers/pasta & the like that have gone out of date then it is written off & taken to the canteen for staff to eat. But never anything that is considered a 'fresh food' like milk eggs butter juices & such, that goes straight into the bin just before closing on the last 'sell by' date.