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Original poster

Anyone noticed that the quality of food has declined ?

114 replies

FixundFoxi · 03/01/2023 20:53

Just wondered if anyone had noticed that the quality of fruit and veg has declined massively ? Peppers are bruised, wrinkled and soft, carrots bendy and gnarled looking, even potatoes are soft. Most the meat has sell by dates of a day or two.
Don't have a Waitrose locally (up north) so seems to be universal to ordinary supermarkets like Sainsbos and Asda..

OP posts:
Lochroy · 03/01/2023 22:33

We've had Sainsbury’s deliveries weekly since the start of Covid. Quality had absolutely dropped recently so much so that we've stopped buying it from them.

The dates thing is a bloody nuisance. I am wasting more than before. It's hard enough when choosing in a shop but it's flipping hopeless with deliveries. Nothing lasts as long as I need for my meal plans for the week and I don't know what order to use things up in.

That said, ask my DM and it's all Brexit's fault because the EU save the best fruit and veg for their own and no longer share with us Hmm

SkankingWombat · 03/01/2023 22:37

Yes, we've noticed a decline. I have returned to shopping at Waitrose where possible, even though it is more inconvenient (I alternated between Sainsbury's and Morrison's previously). Even they seem to have very short dates on everything, but at least they a) have stock and b) it's of a reasonable quality.
We have previously been very good at keeping food waste low, and were rarely composting anything other than peelings and bowl/plate scrapings. So far this week, I have had to chuck 2 peppers, some cherry tomatoes (maybe 5 or 6?), half a loaf of bread, an apple, and an avocado (mostly from a Sainsbury's shop). I'm sure there will be a bit more on that list by the weekend too, despite our best efforts to keep an eye and prioritise eating items that look like they're on the way out...

Oher · 03/01/2023 22:37

ClaudiusTheGod · 03/01/2023 21:18

Doesn’t really save on food waste when my veg is manky a day after getting it.

You’re right. It saves on Sainsbury’s food waste, it doesn’t save on the customer’s. It just gets thrown away somewhere else, by us, after we’ve spent money on it. It’s pretty clever how they’ve managed to sell this to people using the food waste argument.

This

Original poster
FixundFoxi · 03/01/2023 22:43

@surreysarah agree that M and S veg are actually better value in the long run.

OP posts:
SharksInTheTea · 03/01/2023 22:48

Yea. To the point where we've taken on an extra allotment plot for this year and added a poly tunnel - all so we can grow far more fruit and veg ourselves because the cost/quality of supermarket fruit and veg is shocking now.

FGSWhatNow · 03/01/2023 22:51

Definitely agree that the quality of Sainsburys fruit and veg has deteriorated. We get deliveries and every week we have to reject at least one thing due to being soft and past its prime or bashed around and bruised. Now that they pre-package the fruit (e.g. bags of 6 apples) half the time we only find out something is shot when we open it later, so then have to faff around on FB messenger getting a refund. It's got so bad that I've cancelled the renewal on the delivery pass, when it expires we'll find somewhere else to shop.

makingarunforit · 03/01/2023 23:06

Over the last few years I have transitioned to Waitrose. I do my main shop there with bits from M&S and the very odd thing from other supermarkets.

I avoided Waitrose in the past because I thought it was too expensive but for a bit more money the quality is much better. I really notice the difference if I shop anywhere else now.

spotddog · 03/01/2023 23:15

Waitrose fruit and veg have been 'off' for a long time. We are constantly throwing out or having to make soup. They also have no use by dates. Customers are advised to judge for ourselves. Problem is packaging does not allow inspection.
Christmas shopping, done Friday 23rd, left us with steak use by date 25th, prawns 26th etc. ended up
having to replan meals.

Waitrose are introducing too many own brands and dropping quality.

Quantumphysicality · 03/01/2023 23:21

Agree with all - sainsburys fruit and veg now seems to go off the day you buy it, if not before. They had already reduced the veg quality. We will be shopping elsewhere, which is a shame, as our next supermarket is a lot further away.

LorenzoVonMatterhorn · 03/01/2023 23:26

Yes ive noticed. Im throwing bad food out far more than ever before. Ive bought veg and fruit well in date that has had bad pieces in by the time ive got home.

SuperGinger · 03/01/2023 23:31

We shop at Aldi and Waitrose, today I had a mouldy green bean and a rotten potato frommthe things I'd njust bought and those slightly wrinkly soft tomatoes. Urgh

Cassillero · 03/01/2023 23:35

I was just thinking that today when I had to throw a load of fruit and veg away. Normally, I'd have to make it into a soup or something but there was loads that was rotten. I actually thought maybe my fridge was faulty at first, but it isn't. A cucumber I bought on Saturday and used half of, looked like it had been left there for weeks it was so soggy today.

I buy from wherever is convenient, so a combination this past fortnight or so of Asda, Food Warehouse, Sainsburys and Aldi. Even things like potatoes and apples I had to throw part of the pack away.

sparkiesparkle · 03/01/2023 23:37

Yes I've noticed this. I used to get a weekLy online shop, I now do a shop every three days instead. Everything just goes off quicker

FedUpWithEverything123 · 03/01/2023 23:38

I definitely have OP. And Tesco have taken off some use-by dates, which strangely doesnt stop the food from going off!

Bunchamunchacarrots · 03/01/2023 23:39

My bread keeps going mouldy before I finish a loaf. Noticed it the last few weeks.

earsup · 03/01/2023 23:41

I got some bags of carrots and parsnips in asda and waitrose...a few days later both all soggy and black....they were on the cheap xmas promotion so a reason to just flog old stock on....have also noticed that our bags of oven chips and frozen parsnips not contain about 30% of scraps which you cannot cook...a con.

Notoironing · 03/01/2023 23:42

Interesting so many mentions of Sainsburys. Bought 5kg of potatoes for a big family roast and so many potatoes were already rotten inside on the day they arrived. Had to throw about a third away and slice bits off the rest.

greennavy · 04/01/2023 08:21

We have our
Shopping delivered so we assumed this was the reason. Sainsbos

hennybeans · 04/01/2023 08:43

Yes, for me it’s chicken breasts at Sainsbury’s. They are all terrible quality now, full of clots and sinew. It used to be a rare occurrence that I would have to cut anything off, but I have to every time now. Last week I actually refused to buy any as the chicken just looked awful, sort of purple sheen with visible clots, every package.

Also, I used to get Morrisons delivery but stopped because the dates in the products I received were so short it was ridiculous.

Saltywalruss · 04/01/2023 08:51

FGSWhatNow · 03/01/2023 22:51

Definitely agree that the quality of Sainsburys fruit and veg has deteriorated. We get deliveries and every week we have to reject at least one thing due to being soft and past its prime or bashed around and bruised. Now that they pre-package the fruit (e.g. bags of 6 apples) half the time we only find out something is shot when we open it later, so then have to faff around on FB messenger getting a refund. It's got so bad that I've cancelled the renewal on the delivery pass, when it expires we'll find somewhere else to shop.

You can just phone them

BlastedPimples · 04/01/2023 08:53

Is there still a backlog of lorries at Dover importing a lot of fruit and veg? So it's all just sitting there, losing shelf life?

Saltywalruss · 04/01/2023 09:04

hennybeans · 04/01/2023 08:43

Yes, for me it’s chicken breasts at Sainsbury’s. They are all terrible quality now, full of clots and sinew. It used to be a rare occurrence that I would have to cut anything off, but I have to every time now. Last week I actually refused to buy any as the chicken just looked awful, sort of purple sheen with visible clots, every package.

Also, I used to get Morrisons delivery but stopped because the dates in the products I received were so short it was ridiculous.

It's no wonder chicken meat is bad quality considering how supermarket chickens are reared.

Tamarindtree · 04/01/2023 09:07

I go to a farm shop and they grow some stuff and others they buy in, no idea where from but it’s all lovely.

Some veg needs to be washed as there is mud on it unlike the pristine supermarket ones but the taste is far superior to bland ones bought in supermarkets.

Shelefttheweb · 04/01/2023 10:48

I wonder if bird flu restrictions have impacted on chicken?

Shelefttheweb · 04/01/2023 10:52

In first lockdown I briefly used a grocery company that had focused on trade (pubs, restaurants etc). I stopped because their boxes didn’t really match our need (too many potatoes). But they since have continued with serving the public and now allow you to order specific items. I think I may try them again...