Out of date meat products from supermarket; worrying.

Just catching up on this thread. I've had similar issues, products had to be used by the day after delivery etc and no mention on the paperwork, also a whole bag of tomatoes and soft fruits didn't turn up despite being charged so I complained, the store wanted to give me vouchers to use on my next online delivery but I refused and received a credit for the items that didn't appear and credit for the short date items. I think the stores are using temporary staff who are just grabbing things from the shelves without looking or caring.

I'm lucky as I eat vegan, and so just about everything is okay after the use-by date. But meat or dairy over the use-by sounds very dodgy, and it's probably not the best idea to eat it.

I often find out of date products still on display in my local supermarkets but if I do I always point it out to a member of staff as I don't want it to be bought by someone who doesn't check. Having failed to get a delivery slot when I attempted to go online I'm still shopping in person. The main thing putting me off online shopping was the lack of control over use by dates etc so in a way I'm glad my only attempt failed! I also like the opportunity to check out the reduced item bargains, but now I'm shopping less often that is less of a draw.

I wouldn't be happy to receive out of date meat or fresh food. There should be checks in place to ensure this doesn't happen, but of course, they are all working under extreme pressure at the moment.

However, generally we tend to take our food very much for granted. Many of us do understand the huge supply chain from farmer through to delivery to our door, especially those of us who have family involved in the process, but there are some who do not.

Good reminder Daisyboots that there are human beings doing their best to pick and deliver food for us.
I wouldn't like to receive out of date meat, but am extremely grateful for the deliveries that I have had.
Perhaps we have taken for granted the choice and abundance and freshness of our food, which has been so easy to obtain in the past?

My grandson was a picker at Tescos before being promoted and they do have to conform to a 'pick rate' which is quite fast. What I would say is that they start work at 5.30am in order to get the early deliveries out so may have to take what's on the shelf as maybe the new stock has not been put out yet. But that would not excuse out of date stock being picked as that should have removed the night before.
My youngest son has a life limiting illness and has ordered home deliveries from Iceland for several years. His last order slot he managed to get was late at 8pm to 10pm and the result was they were out of stock of fresh milk, bread etc which didnt help him at all.
Still we have to remember that the supermarkets have greatly increased the number of order slots and have therefore had to employ many new people who need training so they are mostly trying to do their best in difficult times.
Here in Portugal home delivery is in it's infancy with only one chain doing it on a reasonable scale and even then it's about a month wait for a delivery.

Morrison's online for most things and a weekly forage at M&S for fresh salad, veg, fruit, chicken and bacon. Oh yes and a few treats?

the food standards agency would not be interested in these issues, they do not carry out any inspections, they are a central body that mostly collate statistics and produce annual report.
a bit like (in)action fraud.
neither do trading standards deal with matters of food safety.
the relevant enforcement body is the environmental health department, food section, at your local council.
but in practice they are unlikely to do anything either. their inspections are pre-announced and based on a risk score, so a large supposedly respectable supermarket would have a low risk score, so be rarely inspected. also like all local authority staff , there have been severe cuts in the last 10 years. now of course even fewer around.
this would not merit any action i'm afraid.
i agree with PPs, name and shame is most likely to get a response.
to Saggi, that sounds an awkward situation. is there no one else who can fetch your shopping for you. i thought most areas had established networks of volunteers; try them:
covidmutualaid.org/local-groups/

I'd like to clap a big thank you for all the supermarket staff who have been thrown in to this chaotic and frightening situation and are doing their best. Our local Tesco and Iceland delivery services have both been wonderful. The quality of fruit and veg are great, use by dates quite acceptable and substitutions rare but sensible.

I'd report them to Trading Standards. Once for a mistake would be forgivable but not for it being repeated multiple times. Slightly off subject but was horrified to find single tins of Heinz baked beans priced at 95p a tin at our local Tesco express. Was desperate at the time so bought them, now found a 4-pack of stores own brand in Lidl for 98p. How can Tesco and Heinz justify charging nearly 4 times the price for something almost identical??!! They're having a laugh.

Look up local butchers and ring to ask if they deliver, mine do and the meat is delicious, you might be lucky! They do eggs too.

I would much rather shop personally and choose my own products. I won’t go to the large supermarkets, but instead am using my small local co op store.
It’s a little bit more expensive, but I feel it’s worth it for peace of mind.

I’ve never done online shopping and very much doubt I could get a slot.

We have had click and collect twice from Asda the other weeks we have had Asda deliveries. Excellent quality and long use by dates. Friendly delivery drivers too. I haven’t found it difficult to get deliveries either. We are in our late sixties but my husband takes steroids for Polymyalgia Rhumatica which reduce his immune system so not going out. I think we have been very lucky reading what other people have been through. I do prefer to shop myself to chose veg’ and so on and use Asda weekly. We like their meat and fresh fruit and veg. Only problem we have at the moment is getting enough eggs and flour! That seems to be a problem all round.

Agree with pp suggesting Twitter and Facebook if you can’t get a response from the supermarket.

I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to sell out of date food. If you eat it because it seems okay and end up Ill then there is no comeback. I would be expecting to get a refund with a shopping voucher at the very least.

We’ve been having weekly food deliveries for the last five weeks and apart from quite a few things being out of stock when the delivery arrives, have been reasonably pleased with the service. However, a loaf of bread was in the bottom of a carrier bag with 7kg of potatoes on top of it and was completely flattened

Got my first ever delivery arriving on 8th May I've very mixed feeling after reading comments. Can't imagine why things are so out of date when shelves empty pretty quickly. Watch this space .

Im with Mrguder on that and also, people that do this seem to be unaware that folk are waiting to get in after them.

I have shopped online with Waitrose for many years and have never had any of the problems you seem to get with other supermarkets. If I had I would have stopped using them!

Fruit and veg are exactly what I would have chosen as is everything else, goods arrive well packed and at the stipulated time and carried into the kitchen by helpful and polite drivers and no, I don't work for Waitrose!

I am very sceptical about sell-by dates but I would have thought any store selling out of date goods should be reported to Trading Standards. Perhaps when this nightmare time is over stores will have to pay some attention to encouraging customer loyalty.

I think you should complain to the Food Standards Agency and tell them that even after you had mentioned the first occurrence to the manager you still received goods that were past their expiry date.

It isn't good enough, and you are quite right. Others who don't or can't check the dates are being put at risk.

I think that the supermarkets are all trying to do their best at this time .. I managed an Asda pickup slot !! But we had to travel about 20 miles for it because it was the nearest one !! And had to order nearly a week in advance .. it’s a faff if you nee to alter your order too as you have to then wait till 2 days before . By which time done items are out of stock and get replaced eg 2 packs of 9 crumpets instead of 2 packs of potato cakes .. I forgot to tick No Subs .. so ended up giving them away cause we can’t eat that many in a week !!! And no room in the freezer before anyone suggests that !! Their method of refund online may be ok but I just couldn’t be bothered

I have had this with Tesco. I think the packers are just so busy they aren't being as careful as usual as this hasn't been a problem in the past.

I’ve been online shopping with Sainsbury’s for about three years....never had anything out of date in that time...... I am not priority as I’m only 69 .... but I sometimes get second stab at a slot as I’m Delivery Pass customer ( pay up front for the years shopping) ..... getting a slot about once every 15 days. Quite fair in my opinion as I’m able to walk although I dont drive and rely on carrying my own shopping. Just getting over a broken left shoulder bone....and other shoulder has arthritis. So it’s a bit of nightmare when I can’t get a slot, as then I have to shop every two days..... can be scary out there!

oh gosh, this is another reason why I do not like online shopping, I like to choose my own stuff
and on the tv the supermarkets or someone seems to be bragging that we are only shopping once a week

that is because we can only place an order online once a week!

I am on the 'extremely vulnerable' list so managed to get an Asda slot but it is only every fortnight. I signed on to Tesco as well and had my first order the other day. It was fine and the chicken was lovely. I am not ordering steak or chops at the moment because I like lean meat and prefer to choose my own.