Out of date meat products from supermarket; worrying.

I had a cheesecake sent from an online shop from Tesco a few weeks ago that was 4 days out of date. Trying to get an email address to complain was a nightmare. finally got one and a reply, only to say that under these trying times they were unable to comment on certain requests! ( not that I requested anything, just wanted an appology and perhaps a refund. I did send a photo of the box showing the date) Only time this has happened thank goodness.

Jellybeanjean Which supermarket? You don't specify. Whenever I have received supermarket orders (over years) I have been told by the deliveryman whenever things have a short use-by date, let alone are out-of-date. I could refuse them. I have never ever had anything that was out of date.

Are you quite sure that the things were past their use-by date, and that what you saw printed on them wasn't their best-before date? There is a difference! If it said "use-by" it should not be sold, but if it said "best-before" it will actually be fine to eat for a while after that - not dangerous.

Elegran, I'm quite sure, and it's Sainsbury's. Yes, I do know the difference between use by and best before; these are meat products!

When I get my email on the morning of delivery from Sainsbury’s it will tell me if anything has a short date on it.
I have never had anything out of date.
You cannot send anything back with the driver now but there is a number to ring for a refund.
Today my order has baby new potatoes with a short shelf life.
I shall just use them tonight.

I had never shopped for groceries online but have managed over the past weeks by hovering like a vulture to get three delivery slots from Tesco (could not even sign up to all the other supermarkets). First one was good with all products with reasonable use by dates, second had a couple of very near use by dates and the third delivery was not good at all. Although nothing was out of date many of the perishable products were to be used within one or two days. I put whatever I could in the freezer (all the meat products had to be frozen) and tried to use everything else as quickly as possible. I'm not fanatical about dates as I prefer to use common sense, look and smell and care when cooking. OH was decidedly unimpressed and even offered to shop for us (rather he didn't) so I think I will choose my time carefully and shop at a small supermarket locally from now on.

I have found the best way to alert supermarkets to problems just now is to post concern on Twitter. That makes them respond.

Greeneyedgirl, I was just about to suggest social media to jellybeanjean.
My daughter went on to the Co-op Facebook page when her complaint was ignored. She soon got a response after her post was commented on by several people.
The supermarkets dont like being criticised in public.

My supermarket delivery came today. I think the delivery guy (or could be whoever puts the orders in the van) has mixed up some bags of mine and some bags of someone else's. We've got some posh food and are missing some of our basics.

I'll be reporting the stuff that is not there as missing but can't send back the posh stuff because they're not allowing returns at the moment. No idea what I'm going to do with double cream and mascarpone although I will enjoy the seriously expensive butter and the lamb mince. Not so keen on the pork mince they sent tho.

I've never done online grocery shopping and after reading some of this, I'm quite glad. I'm quite picky about what I buy and have been known to rake through every pack of something on the shelf (I'm talking fresh/chilled stuff here) to find one with the longest use-by date and which I like the look of. The supermarket staff who pick the stuff for home delivery just seem to pick the first thing they see and chuck it in the bags.

GagaJo
Could you make a cheesecake? Just a thought.

Sainsburys always deliver short dated goods in a blue carrier bag. Ive shopped on line with them for years and Ive never had any out of date foods delivered. Sainsburys customer care service centre is open, most big companies now do not acceppt calls to their individual shops.

the longest use-by date!
Blondie Yes, but if you are bunging it into your deep freezer at -20C where it could keep forever (almost), how relevant does use-by date become?

My bin would be doing overtime---I'll stick to the local butcher and wait for the time when I can choose my own stuff from the supermarket. Thank God I'm reasonably fit to do so.

One of my pots of yogurt was put in a bag with two big bottles of milk and the carton got squashed and cracked and I got a bag full of loose yogurt. I phoned them (Tesco) and they refunded straight away. No problem.

GagaJo: here’s an idea, make meatballs out of combined lamb and pork mince. I always make mine like that with a couple ounces breadcrumbs, seasoning, some grated onion and bind together with beaten egg. You might have a lot but you can freeze them in portions either from raw, or bake meatballs in oven for 10 mins then cool and freeze. Just drop them in a saucepan of sauce and you get a quick meal.

Cheesecake, GagaoJo if you have lemons or limes. I don't use ricotta normally, but did use it for a cheesecake at DD's as she had a huge block of it.
You can freeze both too, in portions.
Or freeze the cheesecake

I did think of meatballs with the pork. I like Spanish albondigas. That is very true about a quick meal. Given the hours I'm working they'd be good with some pasta for 4 or 5 meals.

Oooo cheesecake! Good idea. I don't have lemons but have loads of lemon juice bought in case of C19 (honey and lemon). So funny. FREEZE the cheesecake. It wouldn't last long enough for that.

I was going to suggest you share it on GN ?

I ordered some Lamb Chops on my order. Because they only had a pack with a 2 day expiry date they sent them free of charge! Well done Waitrose!

Sainsburys always gives us the longest date they can and tells us if they can't.

The trouble is all available staff are being used on tills . So when there is time to stack the shelfs there is no stock rotation being done . The pickers them self's are in such a rush to keep up with orders , they don't have time to look at dates . My daughter works in a supermarket and it is utter madness at the moment . They are being abused daily because things are not in stock , or they are being rationed on items . I know this is no excuse for out of date food . On the Asda web site you get refunds on line ( This not the company my daughter works for ) . These are difficult times at the moment and being this has happened more than once to you , perhaps buying frozen meat would be safer . Hoping all goes well with your next shop .

I think we are mostly old enough to remember a time before use by and sell buy. We used our nose to check if things were off. We often eat foods way out of date, just judge by sight and smell, so far so good. However hubby has worked in the food industry all his working life and knows all the technical side of food safety, so t trust his judgement

"Blondiescot" - Sorry but I hate when people do that as you never know whether people have washed their hands or even got a virus they could pass on. Especially at the moment. Even those items that are bagged or cellophane.
Nice to know that companies take notice of Twitter. Very useful hint.

Oh not everyone has a freezer. Really wish I did now!