Naturaland Erasing Dates off of food

whynot_31

I think I should reply only once I know how much rum you have had.

whynot_31

I think I should reply only once I know how much rum you have had.

inpixels

enough that I was giggling uncontrollably when he "forgot his fountain pen"

inpixels

enough that I was giggling uncontrollably when he "forgot his fountain pen"

inpixels

I almost had a heart attack at the start of Part II!!

inpixels

I almost had a heart attack at the start of Part II!!

whynot_31

are you going to leave your home, or stay in the A/C?

peanut gallery, what say you?

whynot_31

are you going to leave your home, or stay in the A/C?

peanut gallery, what say you?

inpixels

queued up to #t=4m56s ....

inpixels

queued up to #t=4m56s ....

whynot_31

The trailer girl was cutest in Natural Born Killers. ....such a romantic movie.

whynot_31

The trailer girl was cutest in Natural Born Killers. ....such a romantic movie.

squindar

I too just caught Natural Land at this last week, they'd scraped the date off a carton of eggs. When I got home I noticed it said "use by July __" and the day was scraped off. Hard-boiled them and they were fine, but it's totally not ok that they're doing that.

squindar

I too just caught Natural Land at this last week, they'd scraped the date off a carton of eggs. When I got home I noticed it said "use by July __" and the day was scraped off. Hard-boiled them and they were fine, but it's totally not ok that they're doing that.

inpixels

@squindar

ates on Egg Cartons

Use of either a "Sell-By" or "Expiration" (EXP) date is not federally required, but may be State required, as defined by the egg laws in the State where the eggs are marketed. Some State egg laws do not allow the use of a "sell-by" date.

Many eggs reach stores only a few days after the hen lays them. Egg cartons with the USDA grade shield on them must display the "pack date" (the day that the eggs were washed, graded, and placed in the carton). The number is a three-digit code that represents the consecutive day of the year starting with January 1 as 001 and ending with December 31 as 365. When a "sell-by" date appears on a carton bearing the USDA grade shield, the code date may not exceed 45 days from the date of pack.

Always purchase eggs before the "Sell-By" or "EXP" date on the carton. After the eggs reach home, refrigerate the eggs in their original carton and place them in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not in the door. For best quality, use eggs within 3 to 5 weeks of the date you purchase them. The "sell-by" date will usually expire during that length of time, but the eggs are perfectly safe to use.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/food_product_dating/index.asp#5

inpixels

Did you know that a store can sell food past the expiration date?

With the exception of infant formula, the laws that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) administers do not preclude the sale of food that is past the expiration date indicated on the label. FDA does not require food firms to place "expired by", "use by" or "best before" dates on food products. This information is entirely at the discretion of the manufacturer.

A principle of U.S. food law is that foods in U.S. commerce must be wholesome and fit for consumption. A "best by", "use by" or expiration date does not relieve a firm from this obligation. A product that is dangerous to consumers would be subject to potential action by FDA to remove it from commerce regardless of any date printed on a label.

http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm210073.htm

abe

Wow, that's pretty lame news about Natural Land. Although, I think that the worst grocery store in the area is easily the NSA on Washington, where I've found that many items like bread or rice cakes -- basically anything packaged but not tightly sealed -- taste like the inside of the store smells. It's some kind of cleaning product. After two visits with such an outcome, I stopped shopping there, even though until this week, I lived less than a block away.

inpixels

According to NYC Department of Consumer Affairs y'all have concerns at Natural Land with “Open” or “Freshness” Dates you should twitter it.... #NICKELED&DIMED

:idea:

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS LAUNCHES #NICKELED&DIMED ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK, DEPUTIZING NEW YORKERS TO ACT AS “SECRET SHOPPERS” FOR SUPERMARKET OVERCHARGES

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Kay Sarlin / Abigail Lootens, (212) 487-4283

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS LAUNCHES #NICKELED&DIMED ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK, DEPUTIZING NEW YORKERS TO ACT AS “SECRET SHOPPERS” FOR SUPERMARKET OVERCHARGES

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jonathan Mintz today announced #nickeled&dimed, a new outreach initiative to educate New Yorkers about their rights at the supermarket and deputize them to act as “secret shoppers” and report if they experience overcharges at the supermarket. New Yorkers can tweet their stories to @NYCDCA using the hashtag #nickeled&dimed and post to DCA’s Facebook page. This outreach initiative is part of the Department’s two-year intensive crackdown on extensive illegal pricing practices at City supermarkets.

Last August, DCA announced that its yearlong inspection of supermarkets throughout the five boroughs resulted in a compliance rate of only 48 percent. Commissioner Mintz then vowed to double the number of supermarket inspections in the next fiscal year, the results of which will be announced this August. Midway through this year of doubled inspections, in January, DCA announced that after already conducting nearly 500 inspections, compliance had plummeted even lower to only 33 percent. Inspectors check accurate pricing, proper taxing of products, and accuracy of scales and scanners, all of which harm New Yorkers’ wallets at the checkout counter. When DCA announces this year’s results of its yearlong intensified crackdown next month, it will also relay stories that New Yorkers have shared through #nickeled&dimed.

“New York consumers will make great ‘secret shoppers’ to tip us off to their own firsthand accounts about what’s happening at supermarket checkout counters,” said Commissioner Jonathan Mintz. “Please tweet us, post to our Facebook wall, and tell us if you're being #nickeled&dimed at your local supermarket. We’ll also be sharing important consumer tips with our followers and fans.”

The messages received as part of #nickeled&dimed will be treated as enforcement tips, so they should include the name of the supermarket, address or cross streets, and an explanation of the overcharges. Deputized consumers should also be on the look-out for a lack of prices on individual items, items incorrectly rung up at the register, advertised prices that don’t scan correctly at the register, a store’s failure to post the unit price on the shelf, and a failure to provide scales for weighing items sold by weight. For a complete guide to smart shopping, download DCA’s guide Saving at the Supermarket. To file an official overcharge complaint, call 311 or visit nyc.gov/consumers.

DCA enforces the Consumer Protection Law and other related business laws throughout New York City. Empowering consumers and businesses to ensure a fair and vibrant marketplace, DCA licenses more than 78,000 businesses in 55 different industries. Through targeted outreach, partnerships with community and trade organizations, and informational materials, DCA educates consumers and businesses alike about their rights and responsibilities. DCA’s Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) is the first local government initiative in the nation with a mission to educate, empower, and protect New Yorkers with low incomes so they can build assets and make the most of their financial resources. Toward that end, OFE seeks to increase access to high-quality, low-cost financial education and counseling; improve access to income-boosting tax credits; connect households to safe and affordable banking and asset-building products and services; and enforce and improve consumer protections to enhance financial stability. For more information, call 311 or visit DCA online at nyc.gov/consumers. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook.

Know your rights at the register:

Scanners - Scanners provide a detailed receipt for the items you buy. Check the receipt against your purchases.

Advertised Items - Ads must truthfully describe the name, variety and size of the item on sale and list any purchase restrictions. Stores must make reasonable quantities available.

Scales - Markets must have a scale within 30 feet of their prepackaged food sections. Check for short weight and the tare weight deduction — the deduction taken for the weight of the empty container from the gross weight. The scale must have a DCA seal on it, start at zero, and come to rest before weight or price is quoted.

Unit Pricing - The unit price — the cost per measure (pound, pint, etc.) — must be listed on the shelf below most products.

Item Pricing - All market commodities sold or offered for sale in New York City must have a stamp, tag or label giving the item’s cost, except:

baby food in jars

tobacco

bulk-food sales

vending machine products

display items at the end of the aisle

eggs

food sold for on-premise consumption

fresh produce

items on sale for seven days or less

milk

snack foods

frozen foods with packages that don’t allow stickers

“Open” or “Freshness” Dates - These dates show the last recommended sale or use date, and must be marked on perishable food product packages, such as egg cartons, dairy products and baked goods.

Packaged Products - The product's identity, net weight, measure or numerical count, and the name and address of the distributor must appear on its label.