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AIBU?

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Original poster

Morrisons - to think this might backfire?

160 replies

Magicpaintbrush · 09/01/2022 20:59

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59928650
Morrisons are planning to remove the 'use by' date on their milk to prevent food waste, the idea being that people sniff it before they use it instead. I think reducing food waste is brilliant but ... AIBU to think that quite a lot of people will chuck milk out even sooner without 'use by' guidance as they won't know if it's still ok to use. And if, as the article suggests, milk is often fine for a few days after the use by date, why don't they just extend the use by date instead then Confused? I also think it will lead some people to chuck it on the 'best before' date if that's the only date on the label, thus wasting even more. I don't personally think I would trust a sniff test, I wouldn't feel confident about it. I think this new policy might lead to more waste not less, and would put me off buying it. Or is it just me?

OP posts:
HelloDaisy · 09/01/2022 23:42

@Stellaris22

We get milk delivered in reusable glass bottles and I always lose the foil with the date. I always just check by smell so this wouldn't bother me at all, great idea.
That’s exactly us too! Mind you I cant read the date on the foil top even when it’s still there so never bother to check it just go by smell.
KimikosNightmare · 09/01/2022 23:43

I don't need "use by" dates. If it looks, smells and tastes alright, it's fine.

Thornrose · 09/01/2022 23:45

I have no sense of smell, never have, never will. I live alone so no one can smell it for me.

But yeah this really is a non issue for multiple reasons mentioned on the thread.

Just funny how people think it's a simple case of "just fucking smell it" Grin I'd love to be able to smell anything.

Sparklingbrook · 09/01/2022 23:47

@Thornrose

I have no sense of smell, never have, never will. I live alone so no one can smell it for me.

But yeah this really is a non issue for multiple reasons mentioned on the thread.

Just funny how people think it's a simple case of "just fucking smell it" Grin I'd love to be able to smell anything.

Pop round to the neighbours and get them to stick their nose in it? Grin Actually maybe not during a pandemic 😷 You’ll have to resort to looking at it/tasting it or the BB date I think you’ll be ok.
Thornrose · 09/01/2022 23:51

Yeah of course I'll be OK, no question. Not having a sense of smell is something I'm used to.

It's just interesting to realise that the majority of people can just smell stuff and I suddenly feel like a minority GrinGrin

Tealightsandd · 09/01/2022 23:52

I mentioned sniff tests because that's what Morrisons suggested people do. Apparently (I haven't read their press release).

I was therefore simply pointing out the issues due to Covid. Obviously as people have said we don't need to rely on sniff tests.

Sparklingbrook · 09/01/2022 23:54

Yes no need to do sniff tests so no panic there if you can’t.

Sparklingbrook · 09/01/2022 23:55

@Thornrose

Yeah of course I'll be OK, no question. Not having a sense of smell is something I'm used to.

It's just interesting to realise that the majority of people can just smell stuff and I suddenly feel like a minority GrinGrin

Oh no! There must be some hidden advantages? Can you taste anything?
slashlover · 09/01/2022 23:57

@Tealightsandd

I mentioned sniff tests because that's what Morrisons suggested people do. Apparently (I haven't read their press release).

I was therefore simply pointing out the issues due to Covid. Obviously as people have said we don't need to rely on sniff tests.

If you had read it then you would have known that they are simply changing Use By to Best Before and encouraging people to have a sniff rather than automatically bin it.

debbrianna · 09/01/2022 23:58

I keep my milk for week. If they sold me milk with 2 days left I will be pissed.

Sparklingbrook · 09/01/2022 23:58

@debbrianna

I keep my milk for week. If they sold me milk with 2 days left I will be pissed.
What do you mean? It’ll have a Best Before date on.
slashlover · 09/01/2022 23:59

It's amazing how many people who comment but haven't read the actual article.

Thornrose · 09/01/2022 23:59

Yes! I can taste, I really love spicy, sour, vinegary tastes so nothing bland for me.

So many advantages, farts, vomit, drains, other peoples BO and bad breath, nappy changing, I'm your woman Grin

Tealightsandd · 09/01/2022 23:59

If you had read it then you would have known that they are simply changing Use By to Best Before and encouraging people to have a sniff rather than automatically bin it.

Yes I know. Hence my comment re Covid related loss of sense of smell.

But like I also said, there's no need to wholly rely, if at all, on sniff tests.

Sparklingbrook · 10/01/2022 00:02

@Thornrose

Yes! I can taste, I really love spicy, sour, vinegary tastes so nothing bland for me.

So many advantages, farts, vomit, drains, other peoples BO and bad breath, nappy changing, I'm your woman Grin

Could you come round when Sparklingcat has used the litter tray please? 😀 Good that you can taste.
slashlover · 10/01/2022 00:02

@Tealightsandd

If you had read it then you would have known that they are simply changing Use By to Best Before and encouraging people to have a sniff rather than automatically bin it.

Yes I know. Hence my comment re Covid related loss of sense of smell.

But like I also said, there's no need to wholly rely, if at all, on sniff tests.

If you have no sense of smell then surely you treat the milk in exactly the same way as you do now? It will make absolutely no difference to those people.
Thornrose · 10/01/2022 00:06

Yep, if the milk doesn't pour like yoghurt or form chunks in my coffee I'm good to go.

Chicken scares me slightly though...Grin

BarbaraofSeville · 10/01/2022 05:44

^How would it give them wiggle room?

A product with a use by of 9/1/22 should be wasted in store today.
A product with a best before of 9/1/22 should be wasted in store today^

The point is that it stops it being illegal for them to sell or give away the milk if it's best before instead of use by. They probably won't sell milk beyond the 'best before' but they will be able to give it away to places who can use it.

And it's not 'inferior' before anyone gets all 'so the poor have the drink off milk then', in 95%+ of cases it will be absolutely fine for several days after the date.

It will also stop people reading guidance about what UB means and deducing that the item is automatically dangerous from midnight at the end of the UB date when, in my experience, that's nothing of the sort - I buy quite a lot of reduced things and eat them the day after or freeze to use later and I've never had a problem with any of them.

Plus it might be the start of people learning to use their eyes, nose and tastebuds to decide whether something is good to eat rather than relying black and white on a date that is very cautiously set. We have to reduce the amount of edible food that is wasted so this is a good thing. People complain about food being expensive, but then they won't take basic steps to reduce the amount that they waste.

Idontknowlondon · 10/01/2022 22:58

Today I opened a pot of cream I'd bought for Christmas. It had a use by of 31st December. I opened it, sniffed it, tasted a bit, and poured it on my pudding. It was absolutely fine!

VanGoghsDog · 11/01/2022 00:05

@Thornrose

Yep, if the milk doesn't pour like yoghurt or form chunks in my coffee I'm good to go.

Chicken scares me slightly though...Grin

Chicken in coffee does sound pretty scary to be fair!
TheDogsMother · 11/01/2022 00:10

I also have loss of sense of smell/taste (not Covid) and though I'm happy to go with Use by dates just suggesting that we sniff things isn't great. Covid has really shone a light on this condition so I'm really surprised at Morrisons doing this now.

AnaBananas · 11/01/2022 09:27

What if it has already gone off in the supermarket. Can't really sniff it in store.

Sparklingbrook · 11/01/2022 10:19

@AnaBananas

What if it has already gone off in the supermarket. Can't really sniff it in store.
It will still have a Best Before date on. In the unlikely event it’s off before that you can return for a refund. Nobody is suggesting unscrewing the lids and sniffing before purchase.
BarbaraofSeville · 11/01/2022 10:31

FGS Morrisons aren't saying they expect you to sniff the milk in the shop because they're going to try and sell gone off milk.

Merely that they're changing an unnecessarily restrictive system in an attempt to reduce food waste. The date that will be the BB date is probably the same date as the UB date, but the legal status is different in that food that has a use by date could be a food poisoning risk after the UB.

Currently, people are reading information telling them to throw the milk away after the date as it could be dangerous, which is not the case for milk. It just looks and tastes nasty.

JB73BD · 11/01/2022 10:38

@ACCx

When people are loosing their sense of smell with covid it’s not ideal is it 😂
If you can't smell it and you can't taste it, being a bit off is not really going be to a problem is it :) ?
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