what do grocers do with expired meat and dairy products?

Answer 1

I work in the meat department of a large grocery chain store.
It all depends on what meat is bad. For example, if it is a package of bacon, it goes back to the company so that we get a refund/credit.
If it is old steaks and other meat scraps it is all collected in a huge plastic garbage can and sold/given to a company that makes other things out of the fat etc. Lots of things can be made... even make-up.

Answer 2

many states have different rules on what they can do with them.
in washington state they don't have any rules and people are free to buy whatever they want no matter how old. as long as they are seperated from the general "unexpired areas" and are clearly marked as past the pull date, however many of the large stores will simply dispose of them instead of risking the liability. also the USDA does not grade meat in letters it is done by the cut and has nothing to do with how old the meat is. also the grading of meat is voluntary and there are not required to do so. the most common grade of meat is found in super markets is, choice or select . and not all the meats are graded the same way or at all. all meat is suitable for consumption. eggs are required by law to not be sold after 30 days but they are still good for atleast another 30 days. milk you could drink even when the sour smell is present and not get sick. also color in the red meats is not an indication of freshness. green meat may be good, while the fresher looking red meat may be spoiled.

Answer 3

Grocers throw the food out. It's Health Department regulations.

Answer 4

Meats are tossed-dairy products, most if not all are returned to the dairy the store subscribes to for full or partial credit.

Answer 5

"expired" is subjective to start with...

most meat and dairy has several weeks of shelf life, but most people consider them "expired" if the printed date on the package is a day before..

Answer 6

Usallly the supplier takes them back and then disposes them off. They send a replacement to the grocer

Answer 7

Meat frequently is sold to rendering plants for the fat content. Milk can be reprocessed and separated into components to render the chemical components for animal feed and additives for products.

Answer 8

this is so gross but i know a gal at the supermarket meat department she says if they cant sell it they rewrap it and freeze it put it back on the shelf for sale but in the frozen food section instead of meat section that made me think twice about buying frozen meat. gross

Answer 9

meat products are thrown out, dairy may also either be thrown out or returned to the vender for credit or exchange

Answer 10

Return them to dealer, why sells them to pig farmers( I was one ),or dog& cat food makers.