Sell by dates

Oh, it's so annoying when that happens! A couple of things on my online shopping run out before I need them, too. Of course, I didn't check before the delivery chap left!! Luckily, I can freeze one of them - just need to remember to thaw it out in time (another note to self )

I wonder if this is a ploy by supermarkets? I looked at some mince pies last week and the use by date was 23rd December! I went somewhere else and found some with use by date of 17th January (actually they will be lucky to survive until 27th December!)

Personally, I think we get far too paranoid about sell by dates. It isn't the same thing as 'use by'. If something hasn't been opened its fine in my book for several days after the sell by date. I really can't see why a sell by 23rd (Saturday) trifle, still sealed, will not last till Boxing Day (26th).
A 1st world problem me thinks
'

It's use by 23rd my oh doesnt take a lot of notice of dates so says as long as we don't open it ,it will be ok if not we have other things for family to eat .

Ah, just realised the thread title is about sell by and not use by! Yes, I agree about using common sense when it comes to sell by dates.

Sorry I should have put use by date hope we all remember to defrost things ?

Definitely a ploy! Do you think that at midnight on 22nd the trifle will suddenly become rancid?
If it looks and smells okay, eat it up!

I wanted it for Boxing Day daddima but never mind there's worse things at sea as we say .

Of course I d use it unless it s gone watery or smells wrong

I think I read somewhere that to give a bit of leeway to cover the supermarkets. three days is taken off the real more accurate use by date. Certainly I’ve never had anything go off within that time. Some things like Camembert even improve. Usually stuff can sit in the fridge for a good week passed the use by date!

A trifle for the 23rd should be fine I’d have thought. Do they mean midnight on the 23rd? Is it for lunch or tea? Lunch is only 36 hours!

On December 8th I bought a huge wedge of Cambozola, which was cut from a new wheel, from the Tesco cheese counter, to last me over Christmas, New Year and beyond. It was labelled with the following day as a 'use by' date. How ridiculous! Needless to say I shall keep using it until it has all been eaten, whatever the date.

Eat the damn thing. It'll be fine.

We went to Tesco at 8am this morning to get all our last minute fresh food and as I'm being rather lazy this year I decided to buy the prepared potatoes and vegetables to just bung in the oven. The had tons of them on the shelves and all had a 'use by' date of 24 December. I still bought them as I don't think one day can make any difference.

Tell me about it!! I'm waiting until Xmas Eve to purchase my strawberries! Mince Pies are the worst for sell by dates....fortunately I don't buy them. How dare Supermarkets/Food manufacturers treat consumers in this way!

Use by dates are to protect the retailer as well as the public. If you do not use an item by the date displayed although in many cases items will still be safe a day or two
after the 'use by' then you can hardly complain the product was not fresh and demanding a refund.

hulahoop.
Don't worry. I am a trifle addict and frequently buy three in a pack chocolate fresh cream trifles and have even left one until three days after use by.
As long as you store your trifle unopened in the coldest part of your fridge no worries.If you are still not convinced then the shops are still open. and many until late on the 24th.

Lidl, typically, have 30% off Christmas Eve dated stuff. Other supermarkets wouldn't do that til tomorrow, and would let you pay full price for that today, and hope you wouldn't notice

Even I forgot to check the date on something when I went today. Sainsbury's is totally heaving and it was impossible to think let alone fine some obscure and barely readable datestamp.

I always make my own trifle, with lots of sherry in it, my one and only thing I really enjoy food wise at Christmas,
I have bought shop trifles in the past, but never for Christmas,and I'm staying at home alone but will still make a trifle
I am sure the 23rd dated one will be fine, but check the cream tastes right, that is the only thing that is likely to not taste as good as fresh

Put it in the freezer or the fridge. It won't go 'off or be ruined in the space of 3 days.

OMG just checked mine, it's 31st HAPPY DAYS!

Thinking about the ingredients I don't see there should be a problem, jelly, sponge, fruit, custard should be ok.

I had a delivery of Christmas goodies on Thursday 21st. One item was use by 21st. Hubby ate that. Some for Christmas Day were use by 23rd but I kept space in the freezer just in case so its gone in there. Fresh veg I've ignored the date on. Problem with keeping space in the freezer just in case meant I couldn't buy the usual food shop. Had to pop out yesterday (Friday) and get some tide us over bits.