Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
6 October 2010
19:5173957Spotted something interesting in the post office in Pencester on my out of there this morning. It may have been there before, but I`ve never noticed. A large basket was there with a loaf in it amongst other foodstuff`s, and a notice stating items reduced as they were past their sell by dates. I thought if something is past it`s sell by date, it shouldn`t be sold, and if it`s okay, then why not extend the sell by date in the first place? This sell by, and best before stuff is a bit confusing at times. Back to the thread title though, couldn`t a shop be technically prosecuted for selling outdated food? (We all know it`s probably alright, but that`s not the point).
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
6 October 2010
19:5573958colin
were they "best before" or "sell by", a lot of difference there?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
6 October 2010
19:5973959Past their sell by dates Howard.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,655
6 October 2010
20:1873964I also thought you should not sell items after their "sell by date".
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
6 October 2010
20:2773967All very confusing as you say.
On the other hand, why should deep frozen food have a sell by date? we all throw it away, buy more and deep freeze it again.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,655
6 October 2010
20:4373972The sell by date that gets me are prepacked vegtables that can be stored for months in the winter.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
6 October 2010
21:1073976To be honest I think most stuff is given this sell by date thingy just so you throw it away and go and buy some more.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
6 October 2010
22:5774007Colin, the only thing I can think of in respect to your perplexity here, is that the recession in Britain means that many people are prepared to by out-dated food in order to spend less. If you think it over, there can be no other explanation!
7 October 2010
08:3774028Ive seen it there to , also brought the cheap bread as the ducks enjoy it
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
7 October 2010
08:5274029I agree with Ian - sell by dates are a con. I do not take too much notice of them as a rule and often eat goods past their date.
In a newspaper there was an experiment where a journalist lived a week or so on food past the sell by date. Every day what he ate had got further and further beyond the s.b. date. It was quite some time and at a stage when the food was smelly and green with mould that he had any ill effects.
Nature has its way of telling us something has gone off and that a far better guide than any label.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
7 October 2010
18:4074092Barry, you ought to study the laws of bacteria: if food goes bad, you don't necessarily see it straight away, but it can cause illness!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
7 October 2010
18:5374096Thats why we have anti-bodies in our blood. The problem now is that too many people live too antisceptic lives making them vulnerable.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
7 October 2010
19:0474099Something I`ve said for years Barry, we have our own natural defence`s. Take the anti-septic hand cleaner that kill`s 99.9% of germs. What about the 00.01%?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
7 October 2010
19:1374108I went to a lecture a few years ago given by a scientist from the Public Health labs attached to the William Harvey hospital. He had contaminated peoples' hands with E. coli then tested the numbers remaining over time. He showed that natural oils in the skin killed most of them after just 30 minutes. Forget the soap, antiseptic wipes etc, nature works wonders.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
7 October 2010
19:1874112i think it is a problem that we fail to build up immunity by being over health conscious, although i always use the hand rub when moving through a hospital.
not for my own protection but just in case i am taking a germ into an area where people are already sick.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
7 October 2010
19:2074114Barry, then at least consult the NHS before publishing these recommendations! They are more learned in these things, and I would rather know their views on sell-by dates.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,655
7 October 2010
19:3174121The best way to tell if something should not be eaten are the smell, look and texture, but most important of all depends on what the item is and how it has been stored.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
7 October 2010
19:3474123The most important factor in whether something should be eaten or not is how hungry you are.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,655
7 October 2010
19:3674124Following on from your post Ray..............and if you do not mind Delhi Belly.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
7 October 2010
19:3774125And, if the sell-by date has expired, how resistant you are!