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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if I can do anything apart from go back to the shop?

37 replies

SpeedbirdSquawker · 10/11/2023 22:14

The other day I bought a pack of chilled sausages from a local shop near me. When I had some that night I thought they tasted a bit unusual but figured it might be my taste buds. When I looked at the packet tonight after I ate more that tasted peculiar, I noticed on the packet that they were 4 days past the use by date and that was from the date I bought them!

Can I complain to environmental health?

OP posts:
Original poster
SpeedbirdSquawker · 10/11/2023 22:40

The use by date is 4th November and I bought them on 7th. I had two that night and then two tonight, 6 days past their use by date. I thought they tasted funny because they're cheap! I am going to walk to the shop tomorrow morning and see of they have any more out of date on the shelf. I'll also take the packet and show the use by date and my banking app showing when I bought them. They know me anyway as one of their ex regular customers, but one of the two owners is an arse, he looks at me up and down and looks at me when I'm looking at produce. I swear he thinks I'm about to steal something. I stopped going in until the other night when I didn't have anything in for tea. I really hope I'm not ill.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 10/11/2023 22:42

Just phone them in the morning to let them know. It quite possibly was just a genuine error.

KrisAkabusi · 10/11/2023 23:22

Just bring them back. Why complain to environmental health? It's also on you to check the dates on food.

Original poster
SpeedbirdSquawker · 12/11/2023 11:50

@KrisAkabusi What a stupid comment!
It's on the shop first of all not to sell me sausages that are past their use by date!!!

OP posts:
Ibizabar · 12/11/2023 11:52

Mistakes happen. No need to make a big deal out of it. Next time check the date before you buy.

RandomUserName11 · 12/11/2023 11:52

What ridiculous comments! Ignore the idiots OP

I'm a food retail manager. We risk heavy fines for displaying out of date stock and it highlights our stock rotation is falling short.

Please return to the store and report to the store manager. You'll receive a refund / new pack (ideally both) and an apology

RandomUserName11 · 12/11/2023 11:54

Mistakes happen Grin

No need to make a big deal of it

It's on you to check the dates!

😂

Honestly, the fools are out in force on this thread. Who clearly know fuck all about what it means when a store displays and sells out of date food

TheresaCrowd · 12/11/2023 11:54

Why would you do that instead of pointing out the error to the shop staff? Confused

TheresaCrowd · 12/11/2023 11:56

SpeedbirdSquawker · 12/11/2023 11:50

@KrisAkabusi What a stupid comment!
It's on the shop first of all not to sell me sausages that are past their use by date!!!

It's also on us to check for human error.

I assume you check your change if you pay with cash?

Ibizabar · 12/11/2023 11:57

I always check the dates myself on chilled goods. Why wouldn't you?

MrsMorseEndeavour · 12/11/2023 11:57

So many ignorant people on this thread.
Of course it isn't the customers job to check dates! That's 100% the shops fault. They risk a hefty fine if they don't keep a better eye on things like this.

Ibizabar · 12/11/2023 12:00

If you were buying sausages that you were not going to eat for several days why wouldn't you check the dates?

Changednayme · 12/11/2023 12:01

Were they frozen

VisionsOfSplendour · 12/11/2023 12:01

Ibizabar · 12/11/2023 11:52

Mistakes happen. No need to make a big deal out of it. Next time check the date before you buy.

Yeah, that'll stand up in front of the food inspector (or whatever the technical name is), what a stupid comment

TheresaCrowd · 12/11/2023 12:02

MrsMorseEndeavour · 12/11/2023 11:57

So many ignorant people on this thread.
Of course it isn't the customers job to check dates! That's 100% the shops fault. They risk a hefty fine if they don't keep a better eye on things like this.

Don't be silly, it's on both the staff and the customers unless in your world human error never occurs?

It's not the staff who are going to get the shits if the dates are wrong, so why wouldn't the customer also check?

ClarkeWGrisswald · 12/11/2023 12:03

Of course the customer should check. Goes without saying

But that's not the issue here. The bigger issue is that the retailer is not allowed by LAW to sell out of date food.

The onus is on them and the thickos on the thread probably need to pipe down

Growlybear83 · 12/11/2023 12:04

I think both you and the shop are to blame. Of course the shop shouldn't be selling anything that is past it's use by date, but surely you check the use by date of any fresh food you buy, or at the very least check it's still in date before you cook it?

Ibizabar · 12/11/2023 12:05

Thickos, stupid, fools? Telling people to pipe down?

WTF has happened to MN?

Smartiepants79 · 12/11/2023 12:07

MrsMorseEndeavour · 12/11/2023 11:57

So many ignorant people on this thread.
Of course it isn't the customers job to check dates! That's 100% the shops fault. They risk a hefty fine if they don't keep a better eye on things like this.

Why wouldn’t you expect a person to take some responsibility for themselves?
Yes, the shop is responsible for making sure their food is in date but shops are run by human beings, who make mistakes.. just like the OP… Yes, take it back to the shop and make them aware and yes you should receive a refund at the very least. And maybe it does need reporting further up??
BUT for the love of god, take some responsibility for your own actions, decisions and choices. No one force fed the sausages. Check the dates yourself before you eat stuff. The shops not going to be the one with food poisoning.

SM4713 · 12/11/2023 12:12

SpeedbirdSquawker · 12/11/2023 11:50

@KrisAkabusi What a stupid comment!
It's on the shop first of all not to sell me sausages that are past their use by date!!!

Gees OP! Who is the stupid one that not only didn't check the use by date on the pack, but continued to eat sausages over several days that tasted off! 🙄

MrsMorseEndeavour · 12/11/2023 12:14

ClarkeWGrisswald · 12/11/2023 12:03

Of course the customer should check. Goes without saying

But that's not the issue here. The bigger issue is that the retailer is not allowed by LAW to sell out of date food.

The onus is on them and the thickos on the thread probably need to pipe down

quoted wrong thing

MrsMorseEndeavour · 12/11/2023 12:16

TheresaCrowd · 12/11/2023 12:02

Don't be silly, it's on both the staff and the customers unless in your world human error never occurs?

It's not the staff who are going to get the shits if the dates are wrong, so why wouldn't the customer also check?

Show quote history

Another idiot that doesn't understand how retail and the actual law works.

TheresaCrowd · 12/11/2023 12:24

ClarkeWGrisswald · 12/11/2023 12:03

Of course the customer should check. Goes without saying

But that's not the issue here. The bigger issue is that the retailer is not allowed by LAW to sell out of date food.

The onus is on them and the thickos on the thread probably need to pipe down

Yes you do need to pipe down.

I'm glad you recognise that.

TheresaCrowd · 12/11/2023 12:25

MrsMorseEndeavour · 12/11/2023 12:16

Another idiot that doesn't understand how retail and the actual law works.

Show quote history

I sincerely hope you're not responsible for feeding children or the elderly.

MagentaRocks · 12/11/2023 12:29

Mistakes do happen. I always check dates when I am shopping. I saw some out if date chicken at asda the other day. Told a staff member and they went straight off to deal with it. I think environmental health is a step too far. Just tell the shop.