Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojusucks]

I know that I have seen expired food in K-stores before. I would very much like for "sell by" dates to remain on food.

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2940574

Excerpts appear below:

[nukeday]

Best before/sell by...as long as there is some sort of date on it, I'm OK. To my ears, the "expiration date" would equal "best before."

But as usual, this is a poorly worded, difficult to follow article. Basically, they're not getting rid of expiration dates, just changing to a different type.

[r122925]

[murmanjake]

I don't see why people can't just rely on their senses and not eat obviously bad food.

Look at it and smell it. If you eat a piece of undercooked stinky pork then I think the blame is on you...

[CentralCali]

Some food-borne illnesses are not obvious.

[Zyzyfer]

Well it's also not just about meat. Dairy products could be an issue as well, and you can't tell if that cup of yogurt has expired until you open it up. Then what? Run back and get a refund?

I personally agree with others, as long as a date is present and everyone understands what is implied by it, what's the issue? Though in my experience, the US slaps on dates that still offer some leeway. The products don't expire on that exact date and you can often squeeze a few more days out of safer foods. But as long as there is a date, butts are covered.

Raw, butchered meat in clear packaging, yes you're dumb if you buy expired stuff. Chicken can be a bit deceptive, though, if you can't smell it when purchasing.

[murmanjake]

Ok, I can go with that. I don't want to be buying crap and have to return it. I wasn't thinking that way though.

The article says that people are worrying the move will "put consumer health in jeopardy." I guess I just got stuck in thinking what kind of idiot consumes bad food.

cantralcali, what kind of food-borne illnesses aren't obvious?

Things that can't be prevented by examining the food, or cooking it thoroughly?

[akcrono]

[ThingsComeAround]

[Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida]

I once spat out a Coke six months past it's expiration date. Awful, awful day that was on Texas Street.

[DaHu]

In Chinese supermarkets (even upscale ones that I've witnessed), they change all the meat "sell by" dates every morning to trick people into thinking they're getting fresh meat.

So I don't see why dates matter when supermarkets are free to change them if their unscrupulous.

[Zyzyfer]

[Swampfox10mm]

And I got food poisoning from Taco Bell in Itaewon today. This has special meaning to me. Ugh my tummy hurts!

As often as my wife or I get food poisoning in this country, I cannot see this as a good idea.

[UknowsI]

Some items can safely be sold after their "Best before" date, but others shouldn't be eaten long after their "Consumed by" date. I think the most fair thing would be to clearly label the item as expired and sell it with a discount. For items like candy and dry food, it might lose a little flavour or be more chewy, but can still be eaten without a problem.

For items like milk, egg and fresh meat I am very happy that they have a strict expiry date, or even better when they have both harvest date and expiry date. As I assume other consumers also do, I add or subtract some days to the date depending on what I will use the product for. If I'm going to eat steak tartar I will probably be most interested in the date of slaughter and not a 30 day extended shelf-life date, but if I'm going to make a soup which is boiling for 20 minutes, I could use meat that has started to turn green. I can't understand why he used "milk" in his example, since it is something that can clearly go very bad. Many stores have varying quality of cooling for their chilled or frozen items, which should also be accounted for when they put the date. A milk carton which is sitting on a poorly chilled shelf for 30 days could scare people away from drinking milk for a long time.

[sojusucks]

Personally, I wouldn't want to consume anything after the "sell by" or "best before" date. It is too much of a risk with foodbourne illnesses. Whatever SK goes to, it won't make me buy it after the date listed. I doubt most others would either. So the premise for changing -- not wasting food -- is a moot point.