When You Go Food Shopping Do You Check Every Item You Buy For Its Sell-By Date?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
February 27, 2010 6:00pm CST
To be honest, I really think life is too short to do this. Most of the food we buy goes in the freezer anyway and supermarkets aren't the usual places to sell food past its sell-by date unless there is a little section of food that has been greatly reduced to sell for this very reason. I avoid them like the plague but my Dad always brings something "delightful" back from Sainsbury's, much to my Mum's displeasure!
I never look at the calorific content or any other such nonsense on packaging either. We'd be there for hours if we did this with everything we bought. However, I can understand people who do this who are on special diets, that kind of thing but me? Nope!
I really can't stand people who check every vegetable before placing it in a plastic bag. They are all perfect so why bother? Sometimes customers can be rummaging for days to find the "right" carrot or potato. I find this extremely irritating as this person has to hog the whole area where these carrots (or whatever) are situated and - even if I was stick-insect thin I would not be able to reach past and grab a couple of vegetables! People manage to do this with me, however. Usually in the meat aisle. I cannot stand an arm (or a whole person) suddenly moving in front of my face whilst I am looking at something.
Why are people so impatient in supermarkets?
I never look at the calorific content or any other such nonsense on packaging either. We'd be there for hours if we did this with everything we bought. However, I can understand people who do this who are on special diets, that kind of thing but me? Nope!
I really can't stand people who check every vegetable before placing it in a plastic bag. They are all perfect so why bother? Sometimes customers can be rummaging for days to find the "right" carrot or potato. I find this extremely irritating as this person has to hog the whole area where these carrots (or whatever) are situated and - even if I was stick-insect thin I would not be able to reach past and grab a couple of vegetables! People manage to do this with me, however. Usually in the meat aisle. I cannot stand an arm (or a whole person) suddenly moving in front of my face whilst I am looking at something.
Why are people so impatient in supermarkets?3 people like this
14 responses
@pandaeyes (2065)
•
28 Feb 10
It is a bit like having an adventure to go to the supermarket.
I don't check the use by date unless the item is reduced and then only to see if it is worth the bother of buying it.
I do squidge the onions and glance at the bag of potatoes to make sure I haven't picked up the one bag with the rotten one dripping out the bottom.
What irritates me more than anything else in those shops is the 'take all day about it' shopper who on reaching the checkout, places the items separately all up the conveyor none even touching ,then one item at a time ,one handedly puts them into the bag then carefully ,carefully into the trolley and THEN slowly gets her purse out and find's the card or money and it is the last card she finds.etc etc when she could have got it out while waiting her turn to be served,then she (or he) dawdle along putting their card away and will just check the receipt and 'oh they forgot the milk' so the nice shop girl will run and get it for her as everyone starts to fume and make grimaces with their eyes. Okay it is not always the fault of the person buying, sometimes they aren't well or are having a forgetful day but ooh it is soooo frustrating ! :P
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 10
I totally agree with what you are saying my friend! I have witnessed this behaviour and it is irritating, it's like they've never experienced a supermarket before, do you know what I mean? I also like my space in the queue at check-out. I will not encroach on the person's space in front but because I do this the person behind me tries to push THEIR food on the conveyor belt, as if I'm not moving fast enough. Well, the reason for that is that the person in front is slow but it has a ripple effect down the queue!
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 Mar 10
It's funny how all countries are different isn't it? I shall try to remember this if I ever visit Holland.
Poor you, I'd go beetroot red as well but you weren't to know and it looks like they understood that.
Poor you, I'd go beetroot red as well but you weren't to know and it looks like they understood that.@pandaeyes (2065)
•
1 Mar 10
Once in Holland, we were on holiday for the first time outside the UK, I was the culprit myself.
I took my shopping to the check out and the poor assistant had to pick up all my fruit and veg and take it to weigh while everyone waited, I hadn't realised that there was a weighing and pricing machine on the end of the shelves.
Then I had to buy a bag to use because unlike the UK,the bags were not shoved at the shopper as they were needed.
Fortunately everyone was very nice and understanding but my face was beetroot red.
@Ingkingderders (3831)
• Philippines
28 Feb 10
I like doing the grocery, so I usually take my time with it. I try to get the best of what I buy, specially when it comes to meat, fruits and vegetables. When it comes to the expiry date, I usually just check those that are easily spoiled, like cheese, spreads, bread among other things. sometimes, I look for things that would be expired soon, cause they usually have discounts. Though I have to make sure that I would be able to consume what I'm buying before the date comes.
@Ingkingderders (3831)
• Philippines
2 Mar 10
When I was a kid, my dad would only buy us treat from the grocery like once a month. Hahaha. And that would entail pleading, and smiling, and arguing. Hahahaha. Now I understand why he didn't want us to buy all the things that we like. Cause it's really not necessary, it's additional cost, plus it's not healthy. 
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 10
That last comment you made is the key to it all isn't it? That's exactly what we do; we never buy more than we actually need. Some people (especially those with squawking kids demanding treats all the time) place way more in their trolleys than they should (in my opinion) and the authorities wonder why kids are becoming obese.
Crisps and chocolate, that's all they are interested in. If I had children they'd get one treat a week, that's it, none of these multi-packs of crisps and the like. When I was younger I adored apples (still do) so I'd try to get them to eat fruit as at least it fills you up inbetween meals.
Crisps and chocolate, that's all they are interested in. If I had children they'd get one treat a week, that's it, none of these multi-packs of crisps and the like. When I was younger I adored apples (still do) so I'd try to get them to eat fruit as at least it fills you up inbetween meals.
@derek_a (10873)
•
28 Feb 10
Yes, I do now. A few weeks ago, I bought a chicken that we well within it's sell-by date and it had gone off. Then I opened some pre-packed meat and noticed that I had mistakenly picked up one that was out of date. That smelled strange, so I thought I had better not eat that either. I took both items back to the store and they were exchanged. But what a waste of time and fuel! I now reach to the back of the shelves with all perishable foods and check for the best dates. So far, so good... touch wood... _Derek
_Derek
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 10
I'm so sorry you had that dodgy experience with meat. I'm not surprised that you check it now. Fortunately, we have been lucky as we tend to eat the meat in a few days anyway but I haven't come across anything dodgy so far, thankfully.
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
2 Mar 10
I check the sell by date for meat and dairy items, but not much else. As for fruits and veggies, I'm only somewhat particular.
At one point I did have to read every single label on anything that was processed. I had to eliminate milk protein from my diet for 3 months, and let me tell you, it is in EVERYTHING! What a big, fat pain!
People don't give themselves enough time to do anything any more, seems like. Impatient drivers, etc. Annoying...
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 Mar 10
Yes, we are becoming more impatient aren't we? I've noticed how fast people walk when they are out and about...it's just that they seem to slow down in supermarkets. Kids should be banned from them as well, but that's another story.
It must've been awful having to check for milk protein in everything. It does make you realise what's going in our food. People are becoming more aware of this in the UK. Morrisons (the store we go in for our big shop) make a point of selling ONLY British Meat. However, if you buy, say, pies that come out of a box the meat within those pies could be from Argentina for all we know!
Bird's Eye have started using the same packaging for all their fish fingers, which is very crafty if you're in a rush and can't be bothered reading everything on the front of the box...we once picked up Alaskan Pollock Fish Fingers as opposed to Haddock. My God, they were gross. Having said that, rumour has it that ALL fish fingers are made with dubious pieces of fish so what do I know?
Haha!
It must've been awful having to check for milk protein in everything. It does make you realise what's going in our food. People are becoming more aware of this in the UK. Morrisons (the store we go in for our big shop) make a point of selling ONLY British Meat. However, if you buy, say, pies that come out of a box the meat within those pies could be from Argentina for all we know!
Bird's Eye have started using the same packaging for all their fish fingers, which is very crafty if you're in a rush and can't be bothered reading everything on the front of the box...we once picked up Alaskan Pollock Fish Fingers as opposed to Haddock. My God, they were gross. Having said that, rumour has it that ALL fish fingers are made with dubious pieces of fish so what do I know?
Haha!
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
28 Feb 10
Hi Janey,
That's the thing i never missed. checking the item and making sure it's not expired yet. if i see expired products i will inform the staff or the manager that the product on display is already expired. they are so thankful that i did not make a big issue out of it. but i of course waned them that if it will happen again i will already report it to the authority.
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
28 Feb 10
you are right friend. if it happens in the bar or restaurant we will definitely receive freebies or complimentary meals and drinks hehehehehe!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 10
My husband did the same once with bottles of Holsten Pils lager he had bought me and Mum a couple of year ago in a pub. They were 6 months beyond the sell by date! I was mortified! The barman said that they don't normally sell many of them. Well, that's no excuse is it? We didn't get a free meal out of them either. If Mum had gone to the bar we would've done lol.
1 person likes this
@goldiegold (285)
•
16 Mar 10
When I go shopping for food I admit that I tend to check the expiration date on the food I buy. I do it because I want to make sure I can finish the product before it goes out of date, and I usually take the product with the furthest away expiration date. The only thing I don't really do this with is tinned food like tinned soups and frozen meals I buy. Anything else I do check the date on it I think sometimes when I do it, it is mostly out of habit.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Mar 10
You must have more patience than me! I'm well impressed! We're very good in this household. We tend to buy only the food we need (even the frozen stuff) so by the time we go back you can guarantee there's nothing left in the freezer (or fridge) when we do.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
28 Feb 10
I do check sell by date or use by date. I only take the product that I am able to finish before an expiration date.
In my philosophy, lie is to short to waste money, if I can spend it on good vacations instead to trow it to the garbage.
I know many people who disposed a lot of food, because it is spoiled.
I do check vegetables, because they are not the same. I buy organic and fresh only.Fresh fruits and vegetables look different than the one sitting in the store for weeks.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 10
The stores I'm going on about are what are called "the big four" in the UK and they have most of the food buying public going in them. Sad but true. Therefore going in one of these supermarkets is not like going into a small grocery store as they have huge turnarounds on a daily basis. That is why sell by dates are not expired (not by a long way)unless you look for them in specific areas in the store.
As for wastage, we only buy what we need. I do take your point about food being thrown out needlessly. As there are only 2 of us that doesn't happen often...if at all.
Some of the huge mountains of food I see in trolleys though takes my breath away and I really hate it whenever we get a "slight dusting of snow" and people stock up with food such as bread, milk, eggs and soup. I really don't think these people would cope very well with food rationing during WW2 and afterwards!
Some of the huge mountains of food I see in trolleys though takes my breath away and I really hate it whenever we get a "slight dusting of snow" and people stock up with food such as bread, milk, eggs and soup. I really don't think these people would cope very well with food rationing during WW2 and afterwards!
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
28 Feb 10
Well, Is not me that does the shopping most of the time. But there are occasions that I do buy some groceries. Well, I do check the expiry of products but not all. Only for those that have a very short life span such as fresh milk, bread and others. But for most of it, I really do not check anymore.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 10
Yes, bread is one we check sometimes although the stock round the corner from us is replaced daily as that (and milk) are their biggest sellers.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 10
Haha! I like that comment about the milk my friend. To be honest, milk is the one food item we don't buy in a big supermarket as the Dairy Farmers contributing are a little on the large side. So we buy it from round the corner as it is a more local concern and we are supporting our own Dairy Farmers at the same time...as opposed to the nationals.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
28 Feb 10
Hello, Janey. We don't seem to get that problem here, as our supermarkets never seem to be that crowded. There's not the leming-like mentality that says you have to go shopping on a certain day at a certain time, or stock up with enough food to feed Lichtenstein for a week the day before a Bank Holiday.
Spanish shopping habits are very different to ours. They tend to shop locally, so don't do big supermarket shops. They can be deadly on the markets with there trollies, though. None of them would pass a driving test. 
It's the sign of a good market here if it's crawling with Spanish Mamas with bulging shopping trollies.
In answer to your question, no, I don't really check the dates on stuff, unless I'm going to be keeping it for a few days. One thing I do miss about England though is the 'reduced' counters. My husband says although my eyesight isn't brilliant, I can spot a yellow reduced sticker from 100 yards away. 
Over here, they don't seem to reduce stuff, although they have some very good offers, and overall the food is much cheaper than in England.
It's the sign of a good market here if it's crawling with Spanish Mamas with bulging shopping trollies.
In answer to your question, no, I don't really check the dates on stuff, unless I'm going to be keeping it for a few days. One thing I do miss about England though is the 'reduced' counters. My husband says although my eyesight isn't brilliant, I can spot a yellow reduced sticker from 100 yards away. Over here, they don't seem to reduce stuff, although they have some very good offers, and overall the food is much cheaper than in England.@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 10
Hiya Sandra. I love that comment you make about the yellow stickers as my Dad is like that! Unfortunately, he brings food back like hotdogs in jars, that kind of thing and Mum hates them! If me and hubby ever run out of essentials there is a shop round the corner from us, so we're not at the huge supermarkets every week, thankfully! We like to keep these small places going as we are lucky to have a shop like that round here in the first place.
@lucygelato (161)
• Philippines
28 Feb 10
yes am like that, ill make sure what i get was not expired and good for health. am fond of checking the label hehehe... am very patient to that
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
28 Feb 10
Here, checking the "best before date" is a MUST!!
We find overdue items still on the shelves weeks after they should have been removed. So unfortunately, it has to be done or you pay for something thats not fresh anymore.
As for veggies or fruits, same applies, you must pick them one by one or end up with rotten products. Im lucky its not me doing the groceries for hubby 
. If it were me, Id be complaining so much to the manager that they'd probably start running the place like they should. I hate paying for something, come home and find its not good. 
If you dont have to do that where you buy your food, hey you're lucky...great if you dont have to!!
. If it were me, Id be complaining so much to the manager that they'd probably start running the place like they should. I hate paying for something, come home and find its not good.
If you dont have to do that where you buy your food, hey you're lucky...great if you dont have to!! @Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 10
That would drive me mad, having to check stuff all the time. We haven't had food poisoning (yet) so we must be doing something right lol.
@Beautyfactor (1510)
•
28 Feb 10
I only check the dates on fresh produce like meat, bread, fish, milk and yogurts. like you say, most foods end up in the freezer anyway. When I am buying fresh fruit and veggies, I always try to buy those that are a little under ripe so that they last the whol week at home without me having to throw out any rotten produce.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 10
Yes, we do that with bananas. I made the mistake of putting them in the fridge. Mum is an expert on food as she works with it in a school on daily basis...and when she saw them in the fridge she advised me to keep them on the worktop. She was right because they went black in a couple of days! Nit nice!
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
28 Feb 10
I don't like to grocery shop, so I look for the item I want and throw it in the cart. Rarely, do I check expiration date, calories, % of daily recommended.... AND I haven't gotten food poisoning, had to throw much away, etc. In and out...that's me. (I hate long lines, too.)
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 10
Yes, me and hubby are the same. It's stressful enough shopping in these places without having to spend lots of time in them. I've got a cold now after a woman sneezed all over me in ASDA and we'd only gone in for one thing because everywhere else was shut!
