Do you check the expiration dates before you buy?

Gingersnap_mama

I bought two cans of Gerber formula last night at Target. I don't usually check (shame on me), but did for some reason this morning before I opened the one can.  Expired June 2011.  Awesome.  It might or might not be ok, but I'm not gonna chance it.  Now I have to drive 45 minutes to go return them. 

Lesson learned...I must check expiration dates from now on! 

TXBaby2

This has actually happened to me several times at Target!  Once for formula, and several times for perishable food!!!  I definitely check all the dates now.  You would think a store wouldn't be allowed to sell expired products, but I guess as consumers we have to take matters into our own hands!

HBaylies

I never used to check until over the course of a month I bought 2 meats past their sell by dates and 2 milks that were on their use by date. It's such a pain to go back, waste gas, and have to return them.

BLONDRAVYN124

Yep check em' about 98% of the time, Especially on things like milk, meat, & baby food.

Gingersnap_mama

BLONDRAVYN124:

Yep check em' about 98% of the time, Especially on things like milk, meat, & baby food.

I always check milk and meat, and even packaged vegetables...but it never dawned on me to check formula.  DUH, it makes sense that I should check that too.  I will from now on though!

wife1014

Yup.

TriciaandSean

I definitely check.  I worked at a grocery store as my first job in high school and when it was slow I would go around and look for expired items.  I literally filled up an entire grocery cart multiple times.  It was not common practice to go through and check, even though when the "stock boys" put the new stuff out they were supposed to put the old stuff in front that rarely happened.  I remember finding baby food jars in particular that were at least 2 or 3 years expired.

Heifergal

If it's on sale or clearance I do. If it's just normally stocked stuff I don't.

KJmashup

Yes, mainly because I live in an apparently underserved part of town in which many of the stores are stocked with expired goods. 

Examples: The OPKs on the shelf at the Walgreens nearest my house all expired 6 months ago. The Pepsi Max's at our closest convenience store are almost always out of date by at least 2 weeks.

Needless to say, I have to drive a good ways to buy in-date baby formula and food.

 

delg23

On dairy I try to remember too. Stores in NY are notoriously bad at that. Though there is this one horrible store here that I bought milk at twice that had an expiration of a week or more later. The next day it smelled spoiled. I guess an expiration date is useless if the store isn't going to properly store the product.

UnderAtree

I'm a freak about it and always have to check the dates and make sure it has never been opened. I've seen parents open up candy let their kids lick it and then put it back. So I always check everything.

Gingersnap_mama

Just as a f/u...they gave me two $3.00 off coupons for the inconvenience.  Better than nothing...and it was half my fault too. 

christine_marie

A few months back someone bought expired formula from the Wal-Mart I shop at and it got her baby pretty sick, so I always check now.