To expect

I have been incredibly impressed by Morrison's on-line service. I tried Sainsbury's first as I expected them to be better but IMO they are not as good. The email I get before they deliver has the invoice attached and this shows the "use by" dates (where relevant) so I would be aware if there were any problems before the delivery arrives.

I would certainly have returned the chicken with only a day before they were out of date. As you say the problem is you need to use the things you order so to many of this sort of problem and I would be changing my supplier.

When I had deliveries from Tesco I never had much problem with dates, but if things were unavailable they would sometimes substitute very strange items which bore very little relation to what I had ordered

I don't know about their home deliveries, but our local Tesco is notorious for selling stuff close to or even past its sell-by date and has been prosecuted and fined twice. I had to point out to a staff member that a whole shelf of mousses was way past it - she thanked me, but didn't seem that bothered...

This problem never occurs with Tesco. I know that some people disapprove of them, but they have a big market share because they provide a good service. They also do a price comparison and reimburse you the difference if you could have got a better deal elsewhere.

I've been reimbursed, but it's annoying as I wanted to cook it last night. I had a slice of toast with marmite instead which somehow wasn't the same

Sainsbury flag up short use by/sell by dates on their order and will take them back if you don't want them. I sit here waiting for the delivery as I type.

I do internet shopping with sainsburys and have in the past had short dated food delivered ....I have complained about this and was told it is the fault of the staff who do the shopping as they do not check the dates on the produce before packing and if there are short dated goods in the delivery they should be in a blue bag and the delivery driver should tell you then it is up to you wether to keep them or send them back with the driver....when I have complained that I have not been told about the short delivery date when I've checked my shopping i have always been reimbursed for said foods..

I had 2 packs of 6 pork pies the other week, the date was the following day, but he`d gone by the time I got to them in the bags. Most of the time though, Asda are pretty good about dates.

Recipe please, but will shop bought lemons do?

I sent them back. I'll get my cleaner to get some for me. I want to cook my infamous lemon chicken, with of course HOME GROWN LEMONS!

Our local butcher doesn't have sell by/use by dates. Should I be worried?

I have to say that I have found the same, and that Tescos are infinitely better in this regard. If they deliver something that, in their words, "has an earlier eat by date than we would wish" they flag this up on delivery so that you can decide whether to send it back.

Also, when ordering, you have the option to add a note to any item and I sometimes I put "long eat-by date please." They are very good and I cannot fault them on this.

I think it's completely unreasonable. When I shop I make sure I get the furthest away "use by" date. Products that are very close to, or at, their "use by dates" would not be the natural choice for most customers, unless they are discounted.

No. Tell them to come back and take them away and bring you some fresh ones.
Waitrose are quite naughty about use-by dates, I think. I don't do online shopping but often in the stores, the food is at its use-by date.