Christmas Present - out of date food?

[OtterL]

for the second year running, my BIL has given me a box of chocolates as an Xmas gift, I like chocolate, really happy to receive it as a gift, except for the second year running, the chocolate has been out of date - last year, the box he gave me was dated best before Jan 22 (given to me December 22j and this years was best before June 23.

DH and I have been together for many years, we don’t live in my home country so when we are in the UK, we go to his parents for Xmas dinner, and BIL is always there so there is family gift giving. In years gone by, I have had fairly neutral Christmas presents from BIL, bath wash sets etc so nothing very personal even though I have been married to his brother for a long time. DH and I always get nice gifts for BIL and SIL. Last year when I realised the chocolates were almost a year out of date, I didn’t say anything assuming it was a mistake and maybe he and SIL had forgotten to get me something, and re gifted a present, without checking the date. This time round, I am upset - who gives someone a box of chocolates that expired six months ago as as Xmas present?

I am caught between saying something and ignoring it. Appreciate that food can last beyond its best before date, and I am not precious about expiry dates, but still - am I being unreasonable here that this is quite a thoughtless thing to do as a gift? Or is it ok if the chocs are edible? I would never dream of doing this.

It's best before, not use by. They would be fine to eat but might not be at their best.

of course don’t eat chocolates.
Don’t tell him yourself, it’s your DH’s job to say to his brother:WTF????
Don’t but them nice gifts anymore , just buy them a family token or even better suggest no presents for adults and just buy for your parents in law if you are staying with them or contribute some food to the gathering.

Don't eat them. Give them back to him next year, without making any comment.

I forgot to put "Lighthearted " at the end of my previous post!

Probably shops after Christmas when things are reduced, then stores them for Christmas the next year

Or could be a regift of some they received last year. I’d probably try the ones that went out of date in June. Previous January not so much. Though I really like Ada’s suggestion!

So no nice gift for him next time and yes, get your Dh to say something. It’s very crap of him.

It wouldn't even occur to me to look at expiry dates on chocolates, so I can see how this might have happened accidently, so this really wouldn't bother me too much and I'd happily eat the chocolates. It's clear you and BIL aren't close, so I don't think him getting you a generic gift is a particular issue. (And many families only do inexpensive generic gifts for siblings anyway). I'd also suggest that the "nice gifts" that you get BIL and SIL are nice in your eyes, and they might not really like them either. Why not suggest you don't bother with gifts in the future?

It’s cheap and tacky .

I would have very obviously checked the date in front of him and then said to your DH, "Oh good, this box is only six months out of date darling, not 12 months like last year, (tinkly laugh) do you think they are safe to eat"?

Then opened them and offered the box to BIL and said "you first".

"Oh Gerald, I hope you kept the receipt for the chocolates. The shop has sold you a box that's a year/six months out of date. Here you are. " And hand them back.
Warning. I would love to do this, but probably wouldn't