Is this shop selling food illegally?

Question

There is a shop near my work which sells food like biscuits, cakes, sandwiches etc anything up to 6 months past their use by date. The shopkeeper insists he's doing nothing wrong. He says he is allowed to sell the food as long as it is within 6 months of the use by date. I'm not so sure. Does anyone know is he allowed to get away with this?

If not who do I report it to?

Answer 1

Warning to suppliers of food!
The sale of food, or offer for sale of food which is beyond its 'Use by date' or 'Best before' date could lead to prosecution or other action being taken by the Trading Standards Division against retailers, wholesalers or other suppliers.

I found the above on this site: http://www.tameside.gov.uk/tmbc3/tsfactsheets/tsfact24.htm

Answer 2

If the date is a "use by" date then I beleive he is doing wrong and the local council need to be involved, and quick. Use by is generally used with a "sell by" date and the shop keeper is breaking the law

If however the date is a best before date, and you are warned when purchasing that the date has passed then there is nothing to be done.

On the other side I don't believe any shop sells sandwiches 6 months old

Answer 3

my husband works at a huge bakery which makes cakes for all the major stores tesco marks n spencers sinsburys etc any cakes get broken they put them into plain packing and sell them to market traders or other little local shops for less then half the price also the do mince pies they start in may but all the mince pies that where left over from last year they freezer for next year as you can freeze cakes for up to a year they defrost them and repackage them to send to the supermarkets again even though they are a year old

Answer 4

Contact the local Board of Health
I believe he is NOT allowed to sell after the Use By date.

Answer 5

Taken from http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/AtoZ/atozDetail?ID=6974

"It is not an offence to sell food which is past its 'BEST BEFORE' date as it is only the quality of the food that is likely to be affected. However, it is an offence to sell or possess for sale food which is past its 'USE BY' date. This is because these types of food can potentially support the growth of pathogenic micro-organisms. The types of food which are labelled with 'use by' dates mainly includes 'ready to eat' food such as cooked meat and poultry, soft cheeses, prepared salads and dressings, sandwiches, cream products and any dishes containing egg or cheese."

More info on www.food.gov.uk

Answer 6

I do not know the legalities, but am fairly confident that a "Best before date" could possibly be contravened because it will just be past it's best after then, but a "Use by date" almost always means that it will be detremental to health after that time..

It is strange that Honey which never goes off has a use-by date on it though.

Answer 7

Food Hygyiene and Safety courses make it clear that date marks are important. It is not legal to sell food that is past its date.

The Environmental Health Officer will be most interested in this shop if you are in Britain.

Answer 8

He is not allowed to sell food past the use by date, contact Trading Standards.

Answer 9

Suggest you call the environmental health officer for your area. No he isn't allowed to sell stuff which is past use by date, which is by definition later than the sell by date.

Answer 10

unsure who video reveal gadgets the ingredients in Australia yet interior the U. S., it incredibly is needed that all and sundry fit to be eaten nutrition could desire to have a "Shelf existence or Expiration date" those are in basic terms handbook lines and the date listed would be at its maximum high quality previously the date listed on the kit. Why does bitter Cream have an expiration date? Is there this manner of element as "sparkling, bitter Cream?"