Best When Used By:?

I know I have written about this issue before but today I have a glaring example of how the “Best When Used By” bullshit isn’t working.  In my ever-increasing effort to start eating healthier I am working towards consuming non-meat–meat products (I know, it doesn’t sound right), there is also an ulterior motive to my madness—the cruel way that asshole corporations grow the meat we eat.  So, two weeks ago I began purchasing some of the meat-replacement products (hereafter referred to as vegan-meat) that are out there (more about this later), one of the purchases was a meat crumble product (located in the freezer section of a regional supermarket).  Seemed like a good place to start.

Well, two weeks have passed since my purchase of the vegan-meat product and it was now time to give it a test.  I removed the package from my freezer and was in the process of opening it when I suddenly discovered that the “Best When Used By” date had passed over 8 weeks ago.  Stunned and angered I threw the package on the counter in disgust.  Initially, I was angered with myself as I always look at those dates before buying something, in fact, most of you will remember that I am the one who always pulls the product from the back of the shelve when shopping.  The store where I purchased the product was one of the regional stores in my area (fairly large chain, over 20 stores).

According to some of the literature available out there online, it is illegal to sell any food product that has passed it’s “Best When Used By” date, although it is ok if the package says “Best Until” or “Sell By”, I know, pretty damn confusing.  But you have legal rights (I guess) if the dated info printed on the package is “Best When Used By” and the date under that heading has expired.  Irrespective of which is worse or legal, the point is, large corporate and chain-owned stores continue to try and sell you product that is not at its peak best.  I guess it would be ok if this stuff were being sold at a clearance warehouse or at a swap meet where you are paying pennies for it and willing to take the risk.

In this situation, however, the customer is paying premium price (certainly in my situation) and should receive the best quality product.  I returned to the store where I had bought the vegan-meat and asked to see the manager.  After the manager arrived, I explained the situation, he acted shocked by what had occurred (maybe it is because he is a great actor), he then called an assistant and instructed him to put out an email memo, directing department managers to watch their stock.  He then very willingly exchanged the bad product for good. Bastard how dare he be so cooperative, ruined half of my blog. But seriously, how often is this shite happening and why does it take a grumpy-assed blog writer to set things right?

My possible solutions to this problem are making bags that explode at midnight of the expiration date or loaded with a voice that says, “product in this bag has passed its optimum freshness date please make a different selection”.  Or maybe radiation leakage alarms could sound, and crews of store employees can race out in their protective gear and masks to seize the questionable product out of your hands thus saving your ass from the contaminated product in the package.  I know, I know, we should just read the fucking package, but it can happen, a moment of distraction and you are on your way home with potentially bad food that some lazy ass store manager didn’t check when they were supposedly doing their job!  I am just saying that we deserve better as customers who are spending money which is getting very difficult to earn.  Even though the manager was very cooperative in this case, it was still a hassle and 20 minutes of my life that I will never get back.  Is it really so much to ask to get quality products as customers?

Talk to Ya Later

The Grumpy Old Fart Customer @2019 All Rights Reserved