Do you check the expiration date on things before you purchase them?

My mum does the food shopping Does that make me a spoiled teen?

Ayup.

Yes, always and now so does my roommate after the chocolate milk incident. It happened when we went to the coast a couple of months ago. We had stopped at the Safeway in Florence to get a quart of milk and he decided he wanted a small bottle of chocolate milk as well to have with dinner. I fix dinner at the trailer, and he opens the chocolate milk, takes one drink and gags violently. He gets some water and asks me to check the chocolate milk because it tastes funny, but I don't want to take a taste so I smell it instead and it reeks. I look at the pull date and it was two weeks before. I guess this Safeway doesn't rotate their dairy stock too often!

Nope, I was the same way and I certainly wasn't spoiled. My mom had the money so it made sense that she did the shopping. I went with her to learn how to shop properly for the best deals, but I don't believe they had pull dates on products back in the 60's and early 70's.

I'm going to have to learn a lot of things! I don't know how to work a washing machine......

I have plenty of common sense though, I was brought up to think for myself and be independent eventually. Even my older brother's coping at university, so I should be fine!!!

You had better learn to operate a washing machine and know how to separate your laundry before you're off to university...or do you plan to bring it home for your mom to do? I've been doing laundry and cooking since I was 8 years old young lady!

Yes, I hate to waste food. I'm the one who reaches to the back for the fresher products. I shop in bulk so I need my food to last.

Oh I've been cooking for years, I'm a good cook. I'm the only vegetarian in the family so I cook for myself a lot of the time. My mum went to stay with my grandmother for a week last year and we (or rather *I*) coped fine until she came back.

And I can fit a washing machine! So I'm sure I can use one

Yes

no, i assume that the store keeps them up to date. If I ever find out that they sold me something bad, I'd go right back to store and tell someone off.

Sometimes.

Usually.

On some items like milk, eggs, yogurt and so on. Mostly dairy products or anything cold...

yep

Sometimes on some items, always on dairy products.

Yes. Always. You'd do it too if you once drank a glass of orange juice that tasted like folic acid and had expired three months ago.

Sometimes I think about it.

once in a great while... particularly if I'm buying something very perishable and might not use it immediately

Miracle Whip! Especially Miracle Whip! YAY! I've been waiting to answer this survey!

I really don't buy anything perishable.

Sometimes - mostly with dairy products and prepared sandwiches bought on the run but I should check more often - I have been caught with past dated products.
I saw some yellow parsley in the spice rack of a local corner store, I pointed it out to the owners and they said that the light had changed the color and that it was still good. That was 5 years ago, I'm sure it's still in the rack...

I had a "milklady" or "milkperson" delivering to our house and she told me that yoghurt can be used up to a month after the best before date if it has not been opened. She's right, I don't throw away my individual packs of yoghurt after their best before date and they really are fine. Don't forget - it's a "BEST before" date, not a "BAD after" date!

Sigh. No, I don't.

Ugh! I hate yogurt...it tastes as though it was already spoiled when you bought it!

No. I check the ingredients. I don't really care about expiration dates. I knew someone who who consider milk suddenly rotten at midnight on the expiration date as if the food had a self destruct timer built into it.

Sometimes.

Yes. Always.

Yep. I do! Whee!!! I have so much to say about this subject.

Almost always. I'm very particular about dairy, bread, and packaged luncheon meat. I root around for the freshest ones. Other things like salad dressing and sauces, I'm likely to overlook.

Yes, always.

Yes, I have a phobia of chunky milk.

I do now, after a few sorry mistakes recently....

Only on milk and orange juice.

I seem to only do this with milk. Other than that I never check dates on things. I really should tho.

always

Could you imagine buying bad milk?! Sometimes they sell cereal at a local discount store that is good for another month. Well, it won't even last a month in my house! Gotta check the dates.

Generally just the milk.

There is nothing worse than pouring you a bowl of cereal and finding out when you start to eat it that the milk is chunky and sour!!