Warning: ALWAYS READ THE EXPIRATION DATES ON FOOD PACKAGES!

[Catherine Vincent]

I was at the grocery store on New Year's Day to purchase a few items. I was in a hurry because I was in pain and had crutches. Of the food items, I bought two cherry-filled turnover pastries. Well tonight I had a taste for one so I went to my freezer and grabbed one out. Lo and behold I noticed the expiration date which was....April 17, 2004. I couldn't believe it, I said well I'll just return it for a refund this weekend. (Luckily I still have the receipt) But I remembered I had a second one in the freezer and I pulled that one out to look at the expiration date and you'll never believe what it was...December 13, 2001. I was f'ing pissed. I couldn't wait to get on my computer and email that grocery chain's corporate office and give them a piece of my mind!

Now I would give them some slack if it was maybe a month or so overdue but this was f'ing ridiculous! I don't think I will ever shop at that store anymore...at least not for food. This is a popular grocery chain. Are they too damn cheap to hire a few high school kids to check their inventory for expired food items?

[Sydnie]

1. In some states it is against the law for them to have out of code things

on the shelf. I know that if they have expired baby formula, it's a $500 fine for each can! Don't stop at the store level though. Contact the manufacturer as well. They should have people in the field looking for just this kind of problem too.

[Catherine Vincent]

9. It was a peppridge farm brand. I think I will contact them.

Thanks.

[Kat45]

13. I know Pepperidge Farm bands last a while past the date--but

not THAT long! When I've gone to their thrift stores, a number of the items are past the date, but it's usually just a week or so. I've asked the folks working there in more than one store and they've told me how long after the date they're still good. Sorry, I forget what it is, but it sure isn't as long as the dates on yours--and I also doubt they keep them on other store shelves past their date, this is just in their own thrift stores.

[Sydnie]

16. Peppridge Farms have independent reps

that visit the stores and stock their products, at least in the bread divisions. Perhaps they don't currently monitor frozen food items that are shipped in from the store's warehouse. This will give them a heads up that they need to do just that. I would contact them and let them know. I would also bet there will be free coupons in your future if you do.

[radwriter0555]

18. Twinkies are designed to last for 12 years on the shelf. The development

of partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, the white crap in the middle, is the most responsible for this longetivity.

A science teacher I know has had one on his desk for 18 years. It's a bit dusty, but he fluffs it off, tosses it in the microwave with a dish of water and it's as good as new.

Oh and that stuff doesn't ever break down in your body. It remains intact, and inert.

[candy]

2. Oh my God! Thanks for the heads up!

[China_cat]

3. I'm not usually one for outing stores like this

but I think people need to know the name so we can keep an even closer eye if they happen to be one of the places we shop.

[Catherine Vincent]

10. I'm in Texas and it was the Fiesta Mart Stores.

[Bouncy Ball]

4. My daughter and I baked a cake tonight

and before we put it in the pan, we mixed some chocolate chips into the batter. Then I noticed the date on the chocolate chips was over a year ago! OOOOPS!

(But I didn't just buy them, I've just had them too long.)

I am militant about checking dates when I buy things. I'm the woman clawing her way to the products in the back just to make sure I got the newest, freshest item.

[tridim]

6. It certainly matters with things like milk and half-and-half

It pisses me off when expensive dairy products spoil before I can finish them. Butter is the exception, because it freezes really nicely.

[Catherine Vincent]

8. I do that all the time too (grab from the back).

But I always wonder if the stock boys switch it on me and put the newest on the front and the oldest in the back in case I'm not paying attention.:)

[tridim]

5. Gak! And I bet they were thawed and re-frozen a few times

I'd raise a big old stink at the store. Threaten them with notifying the press and you might get a $100 store credit or something.

[Catherine Vincent]

12. I am going to raise a stink.

I don't normally shop at this store because it's not in my neighborhood (I was visiting my parents) and it is a low income neighborhood. I wonder if that is the reason.

[KoKo]

7. That's happening alot lately in my area with the Major Chains...you've got

to scrutinize everything! Especially eggs.. Even if the date is two weeks out...they can be old and sulpher smelling...with two weeks to go on the date stamped.

Too much stuff I've taken back in the last year. I think Bush and the State cut backs for "inspectors" is having it's toll.

It's very different these days...there's even worse, but I won't get into it on this thread. :-( Buyer BEWARE...really..! But it takes a loooooong time to shop when one has to spend time looking at every damned product..

[Catherine Vincent]

11. Oh my, I worry about eggs. If they put the old eggs in new cartons

with new dates, there is no way to know.:-(

[Sydnie]

17. Most stores won't do that -- they are afraid of being sued.

They won't even donate food that is good, well within date, that is being removed from their "sales catalogs" for fear of being sued. I used to work for a food broker and the amount of food that we used to throw into the stores dumpsters was just incredible. Such a waste! I used to ask all the time why they couldn't donate this food and the answer always was "The liablity is too great". It used to make me sick to throw it away.

[BikeWriter]

14. Ack!

;-(

[Phentex]

15. Ewwwww, that's just nasty!

[Sparkle]

19. That's just awful!

That is why I tell my mother all the time to check the expiration dates because I know she doesn't pay attention to stuff like that.