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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To report this shop?

47 replies

pinkyp · 18/05/2012 20:57

Called in at a local shop today, it's a family run one- a bit grotty but generally ok. I bought a drink and some tic tacs. Later I got the tic tacs out of my bag and I noticed it said "win x factor tickets" on the front. I thought god that's a old competition, best check the date... Quite clearly there were scratch marks on the back where the date should be no where else just there! I could only make out a number 2. I know it's only trivial and I'm not that bothered it was out of date but I'm pissed off that they scratched it off rather than just leave it, AIBU to want to report the shop? No idea who too tho!

OP posts:

mummymeister · 19/05/2012 11:42

I used to be an Environmental Health Officer. if they are doing this to tictacs then this makes a pretty good statement about their standards really. i would ring your local councils env health food team on Monday morning and ask them to go and check it out. as an EHO i would be straight down there as it gives a good indication as to their views on hygiene. even now i still look at table condiments and cleanliness of toilets in restaurants as these were always the best barometer to see what was going on out of sight.

StealthPolarBear · 19/05/2012 11:44

No problem with them selling out of date/near to date tictacs - don't most shops do this in the reduced sections?
But to deliberately obscure the date is worrying

mummymeister · 19/05/2012 11:48

Stealth - there is a problem with out of date stock particularly if it is way over. the food laws talk about a produce being "not of the nature substance or quality" and it is the last one that applies.

PooPooInMyToes · 19/05/2012 11:50

Im amazed at the posters who think it doesn't matter because its just tictacs! Shops are not allowed to sell ANYTHING out of date!

StealthPolarBear · 19/05/2012 11:53

fair enough. Are shops not allowed to see out of date stuff at all then? (bb rather than ub obviously)?
I know our local co-op often has chocolates and things which are in their last month reduced, don't think I ever have actually seen something out of date

PooPooInMyToes · 19/05/2012 11:56

Well i worked in a shop for years and we weren't allowed to. It was very strict!

Grannylipstick · 19/05/2012 15:10

Why don't you just take them back to the shop. There may be a simple explanation.

thisisyesterday · 19/05/2012 15:12

i think they are, because approved food does!

see, i willingly shop at approved food. because I know they are shifting out of date/or nearing date stuff, and the price is ridiculously low.

i'd be cross if i paid full price and the shop had deliberately destroyed the date stamp.

i'm assuming they are allowed to sell things which is "approved" though, ie, things that are not going to harm you if you eat them. and it has to be made clear that is what they are doing.

what goes on in factories is irrelevant I think. as long as they are following procedures then that's fine isn't it? and if they are not then I would hope that people would report it to the relevant people (though sadly i suspect they wouldn't)

I'n sure cake/fruit that is a bit over it's best before is fine. i am sure tic tacs are too.
but that isn't the point is it?

thisisyesterday · 19/05/2012 15:14

a simple explanationm?

what kind of simple explanation would there be for selling, at full price, out of date food items with the date stamp scratched off?

RetroMom · 19/05/2012 15:27

If they are scratching the dates off Tic Tacs it makes you wonder what other items may have had the dates scratch off too, doesn't it?

Not sure if I would personally complain. I'd be annoyed but thankful it was only Tic Tacs.

Go with however strongly you feel about this, and do what your gut says.

The big chains are squeezing out the little family run stores. But does this excuse cutting corners and deceiving the customer?

thisisyesterday · 19/05/2012 19:35

i don't think there is anything to lose by reporting. you can ring EH and say "i know this is minor, but I am slightly concerned that they could be doing it to other products"

if they investigate and all is otherwise well and good then that's fine.
if they investigate and there are other things going on then it'll be good that it was reported.

i know it seems crazy reporting out of date tic tacs... it just the risk that they're doing it with other more dangerous food itesm

Original poster

pinkyp · 19/05/2012 21:12

Thanks for the replies, it is trivial and the out of date doesn't bother me as its s best before. It's just the fact that it had deliberately been scratched off that made me a bit

Omg at the bacon!!

Bunty do you live in Barnsley by any chance? (mr k factory)

OP posts:

Confuseddd · 19/05/2012 22:45

Life is too short

TiggyD · 20/05/2012 10:20

So is Sandi Toksvig, but I'd still report her if she sold me mouldy TicTacs.

PooPooInMyToes · 20/05/2012 23:11

Tiggy.

Kewcumber · 20/05/2012 23:15

"You don't mess with use by / best before dates"

Just to correct you -

true with "use by" use by is the safe date
false with "best before". The 'best before' date is about quality not safety. When the date runs out it doesn't mean that the food will be harmful, but it might begin to lose its flavour and texture

hmc · 21/05/2012 08:01

Yes, thank you I am quite aware of all that. You don't mess with use by / best before dates because it isn't appropriate for anyone other than the food manufacturer to do so - I am not stupid and appreciate that food can still be eaten beyond it's best before date!

hmc · 21/05/2012 08:04

And I meant shopkeepers / supermarkets i.e. vendors have no right to change these dates to mislead customers...

PooPooInMyToes · 21/05/2012 08:36

but it might begin to lose its flavour and texture

whether its going to make the customer ill or not, the customer is still being wronged by unknowingly being sold substandard products.

Kewcumber · 21/05/2012 12:07

"I am not stupid and appreciate that food can still be eaten beyond it's best before date!"

Its not stupidity lots of people don't know the difference. It wasn't a slight on your intelligence!

I agree that shopkeepers shouldn't tamper with them, I wasn't commenting on that.

pumpkinsweetie · 21/05/2012 12:17

I would, as a child could have bought them and become ill.
Its illegal to scratch dates off useby/bestbefore anyway.
Not only that, if they are scratching dates of tic tacs they could be doing it to fresh food too which is just food poisoning waiting to happen

hmc · 21/05/2012 14:04

Sorry Kewcumber - I was a grumpy old cow this morning! Probably shouldn't post before 10 am by which time I am usually human again

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