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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think CO-OP should keep their fresh milk in the fridge.

28 replies

nannyl · 14/08/2012 16:41

Just been to my local Co- op

I saw in their reduced section, where they keep bread / flour etc etc this milk lactofree fresh semi skimmed milk

I said the the manager (very nicely) that i think this milk should be in the fridge....

She read the instructions "Storage:
Store upright in fridge at 0-5°C. Once opened use within 3 days and do not exceed the 'Use by' date. After each use, reclose and refrigerate at once."

and then proceeded to tell me that it didnt matter as the shop was air conditioned so under 5C .... and therefor it didnt need to be in a fridge.

I tried to explain that there is no way that the whole shop is 5C (fridge temperature) but she just said that actually it was Hmm, and that this fresh milk doesnt need to be in a fridge.
We are all in there in shorts and T shirt.... the shop IS NOT 5 C (or even close)

(It is use by "2 days time" so will probably sit there for 2 days STILL FOR SALE") Shock

OP posts:
drtachyon · 14/08/2012 16:49

YANBU.

The manager is clearly bonkers wrong. She also doesn't understand temperatures, if she thinks that normal ambient temperature in a shop is below 5 deg C. If it was that cold, she'd be having to wear lots and lots of warm clothes.

I'd write to the Co-op and complain about this. This is endangering the health of anyone buying the milk. Maybe you could also take in a thermometer and show her the actual temperature in her shop?

And this isn't a Co-op wide issue - my local Co-op puts this brand of milk in the fridge with the rest of the milk.

StealthPolarBear · 14/08/2012 16:51

She thinks the shop is 5 degrees? Does she have no concept of temperature?

HauntedLittleLunatic · 14/08/2012 16:53

If the whole shop is less than 5C then staff are probably only allowed to spend 20mins at a time in it unless they are provided with adequate clothing.

Sure that 5C is low enough to be counted in legislation but because its so ludicrous I can't even bother to look it up.

If you had the inclination tho you could, and then when you return to the store tell the woman that you are reporting them for a breach of whichever act covers working in cold environments :o

shesariver · 14/08/2012 16:55

YANBU. I to would write and complain.

My local cash and carry stores all the meat in a room which is basically a giant fridge, Im always freezing going in to get my chicken and rush back out again!

EnglishGirlApproximately · 14/08/2012 17:01

Retailers have a Cold Chain which is taken very seriously, someone might correct me but I believe the maximum unrefridgerated time is 30 minutes - if she doesn't know that I'd be amazed. She was obviously bluffing to get you to leave her alone!

I would send an email to customer services, if they are doing it on the shop floor I dread to think what their delivery processing is like.

MarysBeard · 14/08/2012 17:11

Are you sure it's not long life milk? Long life milk has to be refrigerated once opened but can be kept in a cupboard until the use by date if not opened.

MarysBeard · 14/08/2012 17:14

Because there is this:

www.ocado.com/product/32073011?name=Lactofree_Long_Life_Semi_Skimmed_UHT_Milk&source=PLA&gclid=CLTl8JPB57ECFcQNfAod_j0ADQ

as well as the pasteurised stuff which should be refrigerated.

AgathaFusty · 14/08/2012 17:14

Our local Co-op keeps their fresh sausage rolls and pies out on the shelf with fresh bread/cakes etc. I've never said anything to them, but I have wondered if anyone ever buys them.

OneOfMyTurnsComingOn · 14/08/2012 17:15

I thought it was 20 mins?

MarysBeard · 14/08/2012 17:15

Sorry, here is another link:

www.lactofree.co.uk/products/dairy-drink/

FartyMcTarty · 14/08/2012 17:24

There's something in the air with crap managers at Co-Op today. I complained to ours about staff letting queuing customers wait while they fanny about, then invite those at the back of the queue round to the opening till. Waited 15 mins to pay for my French Fancies Shock

Manager was utterly gormless and just said 'uh ... Ok', no apology. I phoned customer services to moan about that (the world is pissing me off today, ok?!), was put through to a fucking voicemail and have had no response. Sainsbos for me in future!

Original poster
nannyl · 14/08/2012 17:29

it is definitely the FRESH stuff and not the long life

I checked

I buy it when my friend comes to stay (normally from sainsburys, where i get it out of the fridge)

I double checked, and read the whole entire package before i even nicely asked, and it clearly says store between 0 - 5C so i am definitely correct on this one!

I am aware they do a long life one too... and yes my CO OP sell it sometimes but this was the fresh one!

OP posts:
NarkedRaspberry · 14/08/2012 17:31

Idiot woman. 0-5 C is fridge temp.

JennerOSity · 14/08/2012 17:36

The manager is mad if he thinks his whole store is at 5c! As if!

If it was then yes, that would be OK. But it ain't, I would bet my granny on it. She was fobbing you off and I would not be buying from there if that is the attitude of the manager what would the rest of the staff be like?

Cold Chain storage is very important for chilled goods.

I would report her to the local council Environmental Health department who would take this very seriously as incorrect storage is likely to lead to food poisoning which is not OK from a retail store.

JennerOSity · 14/08/2012 17:36

he - she obv.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 14/08/2012 21:34

I have just checked - they need a risk assessment if working at temps below 16C which should include provision of adequate breaks and Personal Protective Clothing.

Next time you go it I would ask if her risk assessment for employees working in a chilled environment meets the HSE requirements as they don't appear to have breaks at the recommened frequency and there is no evidence of PPE and then smile and walk away :o

ratspeaker · 14/08/2012 23:13

In winter if its below 5 degrees C you'd be out in thick coat scarf hat and gloves. You'd be wondering about snow and ice

HauntedLittleLunatic · 14/08/2012 23:15

If it was below 5C it would most likely be snowing (if there was any precipitation!)

VivaLeBeaver · 14/08/2012 23:26

In our Co-op the bloke behind the baker counter picks his nose as he strolls out with a batch of fresh bread rolls and then uses his bogey bare hands to put the rolls out.

VivaLeBeaver · 14/08/2012 23:46

Well the Points of Interst thing is a bit crap. Asked it to find the nearest shops to me and it doesn't know about any of the shops in my large village, which include a big Tesco Express. But directs me to a smaller co-op 4 miles away.

VivaLeBeaver · 14/08/2012 23:47

wrong thread, sorry.

sashh · 15/08/2012 06:01

In the old days, when milk was delivered on the back of an electric float it wasn't refrigerated.

It comes out of a cow warm.

trinitybleu · 15/08/2012 07:06

Lactofree goes off really quick at room temperature or higher as well - within an hour my DD cup of slightly warmed Lactofree is lumpy.

AgathaFusty · 15/08/2012 07:45

I'm going off the Co-op more and more, reading this thread.

ratspeaker · 15/08/2012 07:55

True sashh
I think it was the sour curdled stuff in bottles that put me off milk for life.
Most people expect their milk to last longer than a day unlike times gone by when it had to be delivered daily as it went off

btw it may come out the cow warm, its then pasturised to kill off bacteria and chilled to preserve it.