Hi,
What are the rules for shops in Finland regarding expired food? I have noticed in Arab and Chinese/Asian shops having expired food for sale with some discount.
If it is possible to report then the link would be appreciated.
Kiitos
Expired food in stores
Re: Expired food in stores
Many food items are labeled; "best before ..." Shops can still sell them (with discount).
Re: Expired food in stores
Does "best before" not mean expired when it comes to food?
-
- Posts: 642
- Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2017 12:54 pm
Re: Expired food in stores
No it doesn’t. It just means less than optimal/ quality not guaranteed after this date. Manufacturers want you to think this is expirations and so you throw it away and buy more but it definitely is not. Last use day (viimeinen käyttöpäivä) is different and that means expired.
Re: Expired food in stores
I have accidentally bought expired food with no discount or special label from K-chain a few times. Looks like they just forgot to remove, and I got diarrhea
Re: Expired food in stores
in english there is a difference between a date marked as "best before" and a date marked as "use by" - and finnish language labelling has the same concept.
best before - shops can sell it after the date although it might not taste as good as it could. this date helps shops sell the older dated products first. dried/tinned products are normally in this category. "best before" is related to quality but not safety.
use by - the food may be unsafe after the date. normally anything dairy / fresh meat / must be kept in a fridge falls in this category. shops must not sell it (even at a discount).
I regularly eat marmelade, packets of dried risotto rice, curry paste 2 years past their "best before" date without any problem.
Chicken/yoghurt even a few days after it's use by date - you are asking for trouble!
best before - shops can sell it after the date although it might not taste as good as it could. this date helps shops sell the older dated products first. dried/tinned products are normally in this category. "best before" is related to quality but not safety.
use by - the food may be unsafe after the date. normally anything dairy / fresh meat / must be kept in a fridge falls in this category. shops must not sell it (even at a discount).
I regularly eat marmelade, packets of dried risotto rice, curry paste 2 years past their "best before" date without any problem.
Chicken/yoghurt even a few days after it's use by date - you are asking for trouble!