Comments on: Uncovering the real expiry date http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/ Mark and Nat, a married couple who are living in Kuwait. Both are designers, Mark works in advertising while Nat runs her own design studio called Push+Pull. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:29:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mariano Roger Mesquita http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/#comment-446513 Mariano Roger Mesquita Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:46:33 +0000 http://www.248am.com/?p=5294#comment-446513 There is a difference between best before and use by dates in food products, The term Expiry date is placed on highly perishable foods which may pose a health risk if they are used beyond that date. Even if the food still looks and smells OK it should be discarded after its date that was printed. If the food has been frozen before the use by date it will still be safe to use upon defrosting, but it should then be used quickly. Use by dates are only valid for the unopened product and additional on-pack instructions should be observed e.g. use within three days of opening. Food opened on its use by date should be consumed on that day. Best before is used on more stable products such as canned, dried and frozen foods. This date is more about quality than safety and when the date runs out it doesn't necessarily mean the food is harmful, but there will certainly be some deterioration in appearance and taste. I strongly recommend observing the safety dates given on packages and also point out that these dates are only valid if the product has been correctly handled and stored according to pack instructions. I hope this has clarified the meaning of the two terms. Regards, Roger. There is a difference between best before and use by dates in food products,
The term Expiry date is placed on highly perishable foods which may pose a health risk if they are used beyond that date. Even if the food still looks and smells OK it should be discarded after its date that was printed.
If the food has been frozen before the use by date it will still be safe to use upon defrosting, but it should then be used quickly. Use by dates are only valid for the unopened product and additional on-pack instructions should be observed e.g. use within three days of opening. Food opened on its use by date should be consumed on that day.

Best before is used on more stable products such as canned, dried and frozen foods. This date is more about quality than safety and when the date runs out it doesn’t necessarily mean the food is harmful, but there will certainly be some deterioration in appearance and taste.
I strongly recommend observing the safety dates given on packages and also point out that these dates are only valid if the product has been correctly handled and stored according to pack instructions.
I hope this has clarified the meaning of the two terms.
Regards,
Roger.

]]> By: pearls http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/#comment-446500 pearls Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:52:15 +0000 http://www.248am.com/?p=5294#comment-446500 of course he's playing shocked that's what they're taught to do, no way will the ministry allow such a thing, complain about it and they'll close down sultan centre of course he’s playing shocked that’s what they’re taught to do, no way will the ministry allow such a thing, complain about it and they’ll close down sultan centre

]]> By: jim http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/#comment-446408 jim Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:16:43 +0000 http://www.248am.com/?p=5294#comment-446408 wow this is so scarry to think about wow this is so scarry to think about

]]> By: aziz http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/#comment-446316 aziz Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:49:37 +0000 http://www.248am.com/?p=5294#comment-446316 foodstuff are usually okay to use for up to THREE months after their expiry date. the taste will be different a little bit, and so for quality control reasons, manufacturers use that 3 months buffer zone. But it will be okay to eat. The problem is... In Kuwait they are misusing that three months. here is what happens The Co-ops remove the products from their shelves 3 months before reaching the expiry date and return them to the supplier. Places like Sultan Center and City Center allow the sale of products that are about to expire and have already passed their expiry date but are still okay to consume. And so they allow suppliers to change the date on the product and put the "real" expiry date. Now, It is illegal by law to change the date. And some products MUST have expiry date... yet it is a fact that some food don't really expire (like pickles and other herbs). Anyhow, the misuse shows when suppliers exaggerate with the date changing.. same as that chocolate bar case. Instead of having suppliers and shopping centers go through this.. they should find new ways for suppliers to sell their products that passed their expiry date but are still okay to consume. For example in the US the meals they serve in jails are all expired but safe to consume by humans1 foodstuff are usually okay to use for up to THREE months after their expiry date. the taste will be different a little bit, and so for quality control reasons, manufacturers use that 3 months buffer zone. But it will be okay to eat.

The problem is… In Kuwait they are misusing that three months. here is what happens

The Co-ops remove the products from their shelves 3 months before reaching the expiry date and return them to the supplier.

Places like Sultan Center and City Center allow the sale of products that are about to expire and have already passed their expiry date but are still okay to consume. And so they allow suppliers to change the date on the product and put the “real” expiry date.

Now, It is illegal by law to change the date. And some products MUST have expiry date… yet it is a fact that some food don’t really expire (like pickles and other herbs).

Anyhow, the misuse shows when suppliers exaggerate with the date changing.. same as that chocolate bar case.

Instead of having suppliers and shopping centers go through this.. they should find new ways for suppliers to sell their products that passed their expiry date but are still okay to consume. For example in the US the meals they serve in jails are all expired but safe to consume by humans1

]]> By: Zabo0o6a http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/#comment-446288 Zabo0o6a Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:40:24 +0000 http://www.248am.com/?p=5294#comment-446288 The date was covered by the sticker , but in my case i bought 2 bags of baby carrot which had the expiry date printed on them . when i first took a bite of the carrots i realised it was 2 monthes expired and it tasted horrid. i did inform them but they never replied ! The date was covered by the sticker , but in my case i bought 2 bags of baby carrot which had the expiry date printed on them .
when i first took a bite of the carrots i realised it was 2 monthes expired and it tasted horrid. i did inform them but they never replied !

]]> By: M http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/#comment-446228 M Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:14:22 +0000 http://www.248am.com/?p=5294#comment-446228 isn't it weird how all the problems with Sultan Center started to rise once carrefour opened? because before that there weren't that many of complaints =) isn’t it weird how all the problems with Sultan Center started to rise once carrefour opened? because before that there weren’t that many of complaints =)

]]> By: Teach http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/#comment-446224 Teach Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:22:32 +0000 http://www.248am.com/?p=5294#comment-446224 I can never get those damn stickers off and it always really pisses me off because sometimes I want to see the ingredients of the item, or the calorie intake or even how to prepare the bloody thing. 2 things need to be done: 1) the company in US who are cheating need to be cut and 2) the ministry dept that cover vital information need to be made to eat kilo upon kilo of mouldy chocolate....... I can never get those damn stickers off and it always really pisses me off because sometimes I want to see the ingredients of the item, or the calorie intake or even how to prepare the bloody thing.
2 things need to be done: 1) the company in US who are cheating need to be cut and 2) the ministry dept that cover vital information need to be made to eat kilo upon kilo of mouldy chocolate…….

]]> By: TanGo http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/#comment-446197 TanGo Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:31:25 +0000 http://www.248am.com/?p=5294#comment-446197 @shopa > expired food may not kill you but it could certainly make you very sick.. [when was the last time you ate chicken with salmonella]! @shopa > expired food may not kill you but it could certainly make you very sick.. [when was the last time you ate chicken with salmonella]!

]]> By: TanGo http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/#comment-446196 TanGo Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:27:34 +0000 http://www.248am.com/?p=5294#comment-446196 When non-consumable products arrive at a Kuwait customs point, they are cleared without any ado or check. All you need is an Import License and the proper invoice and CoO. Drugs and pharmaceuticals however are not cleared through customs before importer has the OK from Drug Control Administration and after inspection AND random sample analysis of the products themselves. Now, consumables (foodstuff) is a totally different game: If its poultry, meat or dairy products, etc.. it should have clearance from Food Analysis Labs (also MOH), prior to release from customs and to the market shelves. Checks are run for salmonella, dangerous bacteria, etc.. If the product is packaged like (juices, chocolate, coffee, sugar, etc..), it is released immediately based on the Certificate of Origin and the Invoice content description. And here is where cheating can occur. It could be from manufacturer/supplier; it could also be a local hatch! I really doubt that TSC will go this far by altering the expiry dates on any product. However, this is no excuse for their quality control department - - if they have one! When non-consumable products arrive at a Kuwait customs point, they are cleared without any ado or check. All you need is an Import License and the proper invoice and CoO.

Drugs and pharmaceuticals however are not cleared through customs before importer has the OK from Drug Control Administration and after inspection AND random sample analysis of the products themselves.

Now, consumables (foodstuff) is a totally different game:

If its poultry, meat or dairy products, etc.. it should have clearance from Food Analysis Labs (also MOH), prior to release from customs and to the market shelves. Checks are run for salmonella, dangerous bacteria, etc..

If the product is packaged like (juices, chocolate, coffee, sugar, etc..), it is released immediately based on the Certificate of Origin and the Invoice content description. And here is where cheating can occur. It could be from manufacturer/supplier; it could also be a local hatch!

I really doubt that TSC will go this far by altering the expiry dates on any product. However, this is no excuse for their quality control department – - if they have one!

]]> By: sfsa78 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/#comment-446174 sfsa78 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:36:15 +0000 http://www.248am.com/?p=5294#comment-446174 This is how far low Kuwait has stooped.. I'm sure the corruption has without a doubt played a hand in this. Its criminal, weather its criminal negligence or fraud, its still a crime. its not the first nor will it be the last time it happens.. I suggest we should purposely look for and buy expired food from sultan then call police, baladiya, most importantly the newspapers, especially all the new newspapers, they're all looking for exclusive stories!!!! This is how far low Kuwait has stooped.. I’m sure the corruption has without a doubt played a hand in this. Its criminal, weather its criminal negligence or fraud, its still a crime.
its not the first nor will it be the last time it happens..
I suggest we should purposely look for and buy expired food from sultan then call police, baladiya, most importantly the newspapers, especially all the new newspapers, they’re all looking for exclusive stories!!!!

]]> By: Areej http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/#comment-446168 Areej Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:56:42 +0000 http://www.248am.com/?p=5294#comment-446168 People, If the local distributor of After 8 chocolates stuck a misguided Arabic label, the TSC is as much a victim as the consumer! People, If the local distributor of After 8 chocolates stuck a misguided Arabic label, the TSC is as much a victim as the consumer!

]]> By: JP http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/uncovering-the-real-expiry-date/#comment-446164 JP Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:29:21 +0000 http://www.248am.com/?p=5294#comment-446164 Hi Mark, Thanks for this post. I am very disgusted with what has happened to Omar. When i was in Kuwait i was dealing with many American food related companies and never have i seen this happening. American food companies are very particular about this issue. There are also instances that arabic labels are put on the products locally(although i cant truly verify this). It will be interesting to see what will be the response of TSC if Omar tells them that he accepts their apology but wants to go one step further. He wants to approach the american chamber of commerce and the embassy and possiblty the company supplying this product directly to tell them about this gross negligence. wonder what their response will be Hi Mark,

Thanks for this post. I am very disgusted with what has happened to Omar. When i was in Kuwait i was dealing with many American food related companies and never have i seen this happening. American food companies are very particular about this issue.
There are also instances that arabic labels are put on the products locally(although i cant truly verify this). It will be interesting to see what will be the response of TSC if Omar tells them that he accepts their apology but wants to go one step further. He wants to approach the american chamber of commerce and the embassy and possiblty the company supplying this product directly to tell them about this gross negligence. wonder what their response will be

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