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?

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

It's in the supermarkets' best interests to have as little waste as possible. Food waste comes out of their budget and profit, and department managers (who are responsible for ordering stock) will get pulled up if their department consistently has huge amounts of wastage.

If food can't be donated (because it's gone mouldy or has been left unrefrigerated too long) it costs them to get rid of it. The more food there is, the higher the costs.

But it's a balance - they need to sell as much stock as possible at full price as that's where the profit is. If they start reducing things more than 24 hours before necessary, they'll lose considerable amounts of money on it.

I think some people are confused. When I did reductions use by was reduced on the day 2/3 times starting around mid morning/midday, final reduction 6pmish. Best before products were reduced in advance, depending on what it was I.e beans would be reduced 4 weeks or so before and monitored to see if they sell or need to be reduced again. Slow sellers with a use by may be reduced a few days in advance but best before a are almost always long life/cupboard items anyway

@Lilac95

I think some people are confused. When I did reductions use by was reduced on the day 2/3 times starting around mid morning/midday, final reduction 6pmish. Best before products were reduced in advance, depending on what it was I.e beans would be reduced 4 weeks or so before and monitored to see if they sell or need to be reduced again. Slow sellers with a use by may be reduced a few days in advance but best before a are almost always long life/cupboard items anyway

I think tins/packets are done differently to anything chilled with shorter dates.

@WeeDangerousSpike

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

Ah, now that makes sense.

So "Best Before..." has become a shorthand for "Best Before End..."

@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.

No one's forcing you to buy it. It's a commercial decision for the retailer.

If something is past its Use By date, however, it shouldn't be sold.

Thanks, everyone. I now realise IABU - because I wasn't aware of the "end of" part!

My local Tesco does them around 7pm

I think it's a good idea in these CV times for shops to not always reduce at the same times each day. Save the bunfight at the reduced bay.

A best before date is best before the end of the day.

Best before is about a drop is quality, not about it being dangerous and so often food will still be good for days or even weeks after.

When I worked in retail what was reduced and when massively depended on what the item was. For example if you are buying a pre-made sandwich, it is highly likely you will eat it that day, so not the same need to reduce it (business point of view), if it is a large birthday cake, highly unlikely you will get through it in a day, so item will be reduced to compensate for the fact you might need to throw some away.

Do I think that a shop absolutely has to reduce goods? no
Does it makes good business sense in a lot of cases? yes

Further complication... does the food know where it is?
If it is local (UK) and supposed to go off at midnight tonight (which is how I always interpret the best before dates, on the day is OK... but this has really made me think!!!!),
Anyway if it as supposed to go off at midnight today then if it was in China it would have gone off by now.
However in America it has a good while to go yet...

What happens when you cross the international date line? The yogurt would have a crisis.

It's usually best before end. So best before the end of the day stated.
In my experience I've only noticed "BBE" or "Best Before End" on packaging where the date was only specified as an entire month.

@Nunoftheother

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

Doesn’t matter.

What happens when you cross the international date line? The yogurt would have a crisis. confused

Jetlegged bacteria😂