Best Before Date

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KillerHulk

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#228966 1-Feb-2018 08:09

Hi,

Just bought the Extra Chewing gum from pack and save over the weekend, yesterday i realized that the best before date is oct 2017 on the box.

I am heading over to the store today after work to have a chat with them, as i cant find my receipt, i can only have a quick chat and let them know about this.

This should not happen, right?

Or is it okay to sell, these items ?

I Eat Dumbbells for Breakfast

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#1949825 1-Feb-2018 08:47

Best before is a quality issue not safety issue. Where food safety is a concern there will be a Use By date.

I don't think it's illegal to sell food that's past its BB date but it should be made clear to the consumer that the food is old.

Mike

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#1949827 1-Feb-2018 08:48

From Govt website

Most foods have a best before date. You can still eat foods for a while after the best before date as they should be safe but they may have lost some quality. Foods that have a best before date can legally be sold after that date provided the food is fit for human consumption.

http://www.foodstandards.govt.nz/consumer/labelling/dates/Pages/default.aspx

scuwp

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#1949841 1-Feb-2018 09:03

A lot of trouble for a packet of chewing gum don't you think? Try one, if it tastes OK then enjoy.

I am sure they would probably have preferred to have removed it form the shelves, but it's not illegal to sell it. I imagine it's a pretty tricky job keeping track of hundred of thousands if not millions of products, there's bound to be slip-up's. I am sure if you find the product unsatisfactory they would replace it for you.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Senecio

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#1949842 1-Feb-2018 09:05

I work in an FMCG business that uses best before dates on our products. All of the retailers that we deal with enforce a 3 month minimum shelf life remaining on receipt into store. A product like chewing gum being sold after the BBD shows poor inventory management and stock rotation practices on behalf of the retailer.

Fred99

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#1949849 1-Feb-2018 09:13

I've seen himalayan rock salt (the pink stuff) in jars with labels advertising that it's xx million years old - with a "best before" date in 2018.

Now that's precision timing.

Coil

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#1949852 1-Feb-2018 09:16

Fred99:

I've seen himalayan rock salt (the pink stuff) in jars with labels advertising that it's xx million years old - with a "best before" date in 2018.

Now that's precision timing.

Maybe the different environment and humidity can cause it to decay in some form??

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vexxxboy

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#1949888 1-Feb-2018 09:54

KillerHulk:

Hi,

Just bought the Extra Chewing gum from pack and save over the weekend, yesterday i realized that the best before date is oct 2017 on the box.

I am heading over to the store today after work to have a chat with them, as i cant find my receipt, i can only have a quick chat and let them know about this.

This should not happen, right?

Or is it okay to sell, these items ?

i guess you have never shopped at Reduced to Clear .

Common sense is not as common as you think.

xpd

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#1949894 1-Feb-2018 10:04

If I've bought an item and its not marked as "past best before" and I find it is past its date, I'll go back and request a "fresh" product.

The dairy underneath work here, sells lots of "past best before" products for $1 each - its great, get an entire pack of Marshmallow Puffs for $1 :D

@vexxxboy Funny you mention them, because all the times Ive been to the one in Rotorua, the stuff is never past its date (sometimes close), it is literally just reduced to clear. :)

XPD / Gavin

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MikeB4

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#1949907 1-Feb-2018 10:19

I won't touch anything past it's best by date or expiry date.i check our pantry and fridge on rubbish day each week and dispose of anything beyond those dates.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

jonathan18

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#1949913 1-Feb-2018 10:30

MikeB4: I won't touch anything past it's best by date or expiry date.i check our pantry and fridge on rubbish day each week and dispose of anything beyond those dates.

Wow, this must be a producer's ideal scenario! It's also such a depressing thing seeing otherwise perfectly good food being thrown out (even composting of such food is a waste of resources and money).

I'm happy to consume even short lifespan products past their BB dates, provided they're in good condition. Eg milk - this can go off well before its BB if not stored appropriately, but can be fine days after the BB if stored well. In such cases I'll use the scientific 'sniff test'!

jfanning

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#1949980 1-Feb-2018 11:20

Fred99:

I've seen himalayan rock salt (the pink stuff) in jars with labels advertising that it's xx million years old - with a "best before" date in 2018.

Now that's precision timing.

in the old days, products that had a best before of longer than six months didn't need to label the BBD on the packaging, I believe it was the mid 90's when the law was changed to make all food products have one

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KillerHulk

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#1949983 1-Feb-2018 11:26

Would you say same for Dairy Products, say Milk ?

i worked for fonterra, and they use to rubbish all dairy products (or put it aside for the store to decide) if the expiry date is within 2 days.

Would you still consume them if you find any product like this ?

Just like @MikeB4, i wont keep anything that has expired, that is the reason why i am having this discussion over a chewing gum.

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kobiak

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#1949994 1-Feb-2018 11:43

KillerHulk:

Just like @MikeB4, i wont keep anything that has expired, that is the reason why i am having this discussion over a chewing gum.

How about pasta/crops? canned fish/beef (given that it was stored properly)? wine/whisky/rum? dried fruits? frozen meat? etc,etc,etc

Half of our cabinets filled with pass due dates long life products, think pasta and crops.

I once had milk passed it's best before date by week and it was perfect, as it was never opened and in fridge :)

helping others at evgenyk.nz

MikeAqua

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#1949997 1-Feb-2018 11:45

KillerHulk:

Would you say same for Dairy Products, say Milk ?

i worked for fonterra, and they use to rubbish all dairy products (or put it aside for the store to decide) if the expiry date is within 2 days.

Would you still consume them if you find any product like this ?

Just like @MikeB4, i wont keep anything that has expired, that is the reason why i am having this discussion over a chewing gum.

Milk is different. It's perishable and has a Use By or expiry date. Take those seriously.

But best before dates are not about food safety. For example a bag of chips might taste a little stale but it won't support bacteria because of the salt content.

However if you are particularly vulnerable to food borne illnesses - example if you are very young/old, immune-suppressed, or pregnant, have particular diseases you should exercise more caution.

Mike

Fred99

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#1950000 1-Feb-2018 11:50

MikeAqua:

Best before is a quality issue not safety issue. Where food safety is a concern there will be a Use By date.

I don't think it's illegal to sell food that's past its BB date but it should be made clear to the consumer that the food is old.

I'm struggling to think of any potential human pathogens that would decide to colonise sugar-free chewing gum. I expect that expired BB date chewing gum might go a bit hard (or soft in a humid environment) and perhaps taste lousy, but I'm pretty sure it would be safe.

Looking at a vacuum packed leg of lamb in the fridge, and that too has got a BB date rather than a "use by", but in that case if it was a little bit "off", then the consequences of eating it - even if well cooked - can be pretty dire.

Actually I just checked the contents of our fridge and pantry, and all the pre-packed stuff has a "Best Before" date - I can't find anything at all labelled with a "Use By". Is that even still a thing? Anyway I'm absolutely certain that it's not a good idea to assume that expired "Best Before" products will be safe to eat.

MikeAqua:

Milk is different. It's perishable and has a Use By or expiry date. Take those seriously.

You should check your fridge when you get home. Milk and cream in my fridge is marked with a "BB" not a use-by, as is a UHT milk pack on the shelf in the pantry.

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