Best Before Dates

[Nunoftheother]

When should a product labelled "Best Before 11 Jan" be reduced or taken off the shelf? On 11 Jan or, ahem, before 11 Jan?

And yes, I realise that these dates are always very generous, but I'm talking about the principle.

So AIBU to think "Best Before 11 Jan" means it's intended to be eaten by the 10th and that the product with this date stamp should therefore have been reduced?

When I worked in retail, it would have been reduced on the 11th.

On 11th, although Best Before is not the same as Use By

It should have been reduced on 11th imo. But it's not going off so I would be lenient. It's just about quality

Ah, I'm an idiot. I should have said when on the 11th? First thing or last thing?

Yes reduced on 11th and removed from the shelves if not sold by close of business that day.

@Nunoftheother

Ah, I'm an idiot. I should have said when on the 11th? First thing or last thing?

Whenever the store wants to, depends on when they do their reductions I would think.

@Sparklingbrook

Yes reduced on 11th and removed from the shelves if not sold by close of business that day.

Yup.

@LIZS

On 11th, although Best Before is not the same as Use By

Yes, as I understand it Best Before is more a guide to loss of quality rather than any particular risk of food poisoning, etc.

Whenever the store wants to, depends on when they do their reductions I would think

This.

Entirely up to the retailer or individual store, I don't think there's any kind of should about it.

I'm doubting how clear I've been. My "argument" is that if I buy a product marked "Best Before 11 Jan" on 11 Jan, I can't enjoy it at its best and should therefore be compensated (by a reduction in price).

I guess IABU, but I struggling to understand the logic.

No if only Tesco could stop delivering food that's Use By the same day, without mentioning this on the list, in a late evening delivery slot.

@Nunoftheother

Ah, I'm an idiot. I should have said when on the 11th? First thing or last thing?

Entirely dependent on the retailer and who's working that day.

We would do date checks in the morning but it could be anytime between 6am and midday depending on how many staff we had in. Some days things wouldn't get reduced until 4pm or later, especially if it was busy and they were likely to sell at full price before that.

@Nunoftheother

I'm doubting how clear I've been. My "argument" is that if I buy a product marked "Best Before 11 Jan" on 11 Jan, I can't enjoy it at its best and should therefore be compensated (by a reduction in price).

I guess IABU, but I struggling to understand the logic.

Yes if at the time you go into the store on the 11th they have done their reductions, if not then no. Get one with a longer date?

@Nunoftheother

I'm doubting how clear I've been. My "argument" is that if I buy a product marked "Best Before 11 Jan" on 11 Jan, I can't enjoy it at its best and should therefore be compensated (by a reduction in price).

I guess IABU, but I struggling to understand the logic.

Retailers will try and sell it at full price for as long as possible.

You can always freeze it or choose not to buy it if you're unhappy with the date.

It's generally accepted that the day, even though it says "before", is counted into the before iyswim

They could put 'Best Before 23.59 on 11 Jan' I suppose.

I'm doubting how clear I've been. My "argument" is that if I buy a product marked "Best Before 11 Jan" on 11 Jan, I can't enjoy it at its best and should therefore be compensated (by a reduction in price).

No, therefore don't buy it unless you plan to eat it the same day. No one is compelling you to buy the product and you are not entitled to any kind of compensation. That is ridiculous.

If a shop chooses to reduce products in an attempt to sell them more quickly, that's up to them. They don't have to reduce them at all. And they are entitled to sell the products at any price they choose as long as it is legal to do so. You have no right to dictate what that price should be and I'm not sure why you think anyone does.

It’s often abbreviated on packets to B.B.E for best before end, so it would go out of date at the very end of the 11th
But if there’s no calendar or clock in the fridge, how does it know to go off at the stroke of midnight?

My friend who works in one supermarket says that anything 'Best Before' not sold is donated to charity after close so it's all good.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

It's generally accepted that the day, even though it says "before", is counted into the before iyswim

Well that's exactly the point I'm quibbling with. Logically - chronologically - 11 Jan cannot be before 11 Jan...

If anyone can convincingly demonstrate that it can, with reference to Einstein's Theory of Relativity, I'll send them a (out of date) box of chocolates.

No one is compelling you to buy the product...

No, of course not.

...and you are not entitled to any kind of compensation. That is ridiculous.

It's not ridiculous (imo) as shops reduce products near the end of their life all the time. That was the only "compensation" I meant.

You have no right to dictate what that price should be...

No, of course not. I'm debating, not dictating.

@Sparklingbrook

My friend who works in one supermarket says that anything 'Best Before' not sold is donated to charity after close so it's all good.

That's cool. I shudder to think about how much food we waste.

Well that's exactly the point I'm quibbling with. Logically - chronologically - 11 Jan cannot be before 11 Jan.

Best before 11th January means best before the end of 11th January. So, midnight.

A best before date is also not the same as a use by date.

That's cool. I shudder to think about how much food we waste.

Sounds like they have a pretty good system of reducing and donating, i think most supermarkets would.

It's usually best before end. So best before the end of the day stated.