Expired Food Items I've Purchased

Humor - Food

By: PajamaMommy 29-Dec-2010

Introduction:

The Shop Rite in my town sells expired food. When we moved here last year, I found out rather quickly that expired foods don't come off of the shelves, they go on sale. Because we were new in town, it was a snowy winter and I didn't know my way to any other stores, I continued to shop there, but learned to be vigilant about checking the dates on the cartons. These are the items that taught me this lesson (and prompted me to find a new market immediately following the Spring thaw).

Bologna

Since bologna has a shelf life of fifty years, who would think to check the expiration date? Bologna is one of those food items my kid loves, but I never feed her. This time the sale price caught me in a moment of weakness and my too good to be true purchase was actually too old to be consumed. I still don't check the date on bologna. Because I took that as a sign that I should never buy it again. Ever. Someday my kid will thank me...or blame me in therapy...same difference.

Sour Cream

Someone needs to let the stock persons at Shop Rite know that sour cream can, indeed, turn sour...or more sour...or truly sour? Doubly sour? Whatever you call it, expired sour cream is not good.

Fish Sticks

They were on clearance. Really that should have been my first clue. Who puts frozen foods on clearance? I thought it was a rural thing, the supermarket clearance sales. If I recall correctly, they were about two months past the last sale date, which for this Shop Rite meant a good time to slash the prices.

Turkey Sausage

With thoughts of a pot of red sauce with turkey meatballs and turkey sausage running through my mind, I stopped by the good old Shop Rite. All I needed was a package of turkey sausage--in and out of the store in under five minutes. Then home to put the sauce on the stove for an all day simmer. I prepped for the meal, mouth watering...until I opened the package of sausage and my nose and eyes started watering instead from the sting of the smell. I looked at the date; two weeks past. I cursed myself, I cursed the store and I think the customer service clerk cursed me after I made him open the bag of stench to retrieve the receipt I had wrapped inside.

Cream Cheese

Last November my husband ate a bagel slathered in cream cheese that had expired in July. I suspect this cream cheese was actually purchased before its expiration date and somehow lingered in the back of the fridge long after its time. But why should I take the blame when Shop Rite is a perfectly plausible scapegoat?

Final Thoughts

I used to think the discount rack of rotten fruit was for people to feed to the deer. Now I know it is just part of their sales strategy.

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Comments

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dptstretch 10/13/2012
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ewwwwwwww! makes me think that both the store and the consumer need to be responsible. We have a large chain where I live that always (ok...maybe only 95% of the time) has their brand of bread on the shelves with just a day or two before the expiration date...I always check and hardly ever buy. I'll pay a little more for an expiration date that is a week or more out--especially since there are only two of us.
monkeysue 12/30/2010
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Wow that is no fun at all. I do try to check mine too, but sometimes miss it.
Ellie 12/30/2010
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So funny! I can't believe that store sells expired food so often!
bossypants 12/30/2010
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Now I'll blame the store instead of my poor refrigerator cleaning habits! :) As always, an enjoyable read, good for more than one smile!
ElaineChastain 12/30/2010
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Wow, how do they even stay in business? I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
ListMaker 12/30/2010
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Love the humor in this list. My folks owned a grocery store in DC in the 40's. Mom told me that they used to use bleach on the bologna to kill the mold. This was a common practice back in the old days. Ugh.
BonnieDossKnight 12/29/2010
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Cute list. We don't have this Shop Rite in Nashville that I'm aware of, but if ever we do I'll remember your warning.
ListingToTheLeft 12/29/2010
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How funny! Most of these things really do go bad. Weird that they SELL them. Hmmm.
goodselfme 12/29/2010
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Fun and sometimes not so funny expired stories.h5
bestmommy 12/29/2010
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I've had my share of expired items too and have become obsessive over checking the dates before putting things in my cart. Yes, it takes a few minutes more to make my way to the checkout but I'd rather spend the time checking dates than have my coffee curdle with rancid half and half the next morning.