Expired items sold at Publix

[mumof3boys]

I have 4 Publix stores near me, but one is significantly closer and not out of the way (traffic is horrid in kennesaw, Ga, 5 miles often takes 40 min). I have been complaining to corporate Publix about expired items being sold at this Publix for 4 yrs (yes, FOUR years) and it is still an issue:( Beef, and chix being sold past the "sell by" date... Milk, cheese, kozy shack pudding, yogurt, mountain dew and even kraft salad dressing (pretty much any time I forget to check the date in the store!!).

Beef roast, I realized the next day when I took it out for dinner and it didn't smell so good, checked the date and I bought it the previous day- but the sell by date was 2 days ago. Publix management claims the beef is good 3 days past the sell by date. (I love the way kroger marks down their meat when it close to the sell by date!!). They said I should've brought it back to the store, oh yeah, I am getting in the car w/ rank meat.

Who should I notify so this problem gets fixed??!

I am calling Kraft about the expired dressing tomorrow- I bought it 4/19/09, and it expired 2/4/09!!!

This convenient Publix is also the worst for coupons, the experienced cashiers are good (trained in a diff store) but the managers and new cashiers refuse coups all the time. Same female manager the whole 4 yrs- and yes, I have taken a good dozen expired items to her personally while in the store (she cringes when she sees me!!).

I wish this Publix would get their act together:( My dh is so disgusted by this Publix, he wants to stop shopping at any Publix. I have only been getting the freebies or almost freebies, any regular priced item on my list I get from Kroger!

[nootrac]

My Publix is not good with exp dates either. I have learned to check my dates on ALL items that I purchase!!!

[smokeydiamond]

I had the same problem with my closest Publix. The dairy and prepackaged meat and frozen sections, I was always finding or purchasing expired items. I first pointed it out to cashiers and stock clerks. When it continued i talked to management. When it happened again I contacted corp who had the store mgr call me and he sounded very annoyed that I went to corp and was very defensive and saying they don't do it on purpose....he was very rude. After speaking with him I went into the store because I needed a few things and he was walking around the dairy section with a cart half full of expired yogurt. I haven't had any problem since then, it's been about a month.

[tissa49]

I just had this experience when i purchased the ketchup at publix last night. If you notice the older bottle does not have paper wrapped around top portion of the bottle, so clearly you can see a thick layer of ketchup that has started to brown.

[kethry70]

Originally Posted by mumof3boys I have 4 Publix stores near me, but one is significantly closer and not out of the way (traffic is horrid in kennesaw, Ga, 5 miles often takes 40 min). I have been complaining to corporate Publix about expired items being sold at this Publix for 4 yrs (yes, FOUR years) and it is still an issue:( ...

just curious since I live here too- which store is this?

I think an occasional OOD product is normal- it is hard to catch everything; but constant problems- esp in the meat dept- should not be the norm

It may have changed but it used to be (I worked there a long time ago) that meat dept was supposed to pull their meat the day BEFORE the sell by date.

I might try asking for the District Managers name and number. Was it local corporate or Lakeland you have complained to? I might also start calling the health dept on them- or threatening to do so- that is what is truly going to get their attn and each OOD product is an offense.

I'm truly sorry you are having a bad experience- Publix has been my favorite grocery store for 25 years

[oobidoo]

I think it's best to just get in the habit of checking dates while you shop. Although we really shouldn't have to do this, it beats making a rage-fueled trip back to the store or, worse yet, thinking you have something on the spot and realizing it's expired a little too late. I don't think I have every frequented a store for a long time that did not ocassionally have outdated products on the shelf. It may not be on purpose, but its a funny thing that it always ends up in the front, with the later-dated product behind it.

[dduck]

I had this happen to me when I bought single serve formula one time. I was in rush as we were going on a day trip and ran into Publix and grabbed the one in the front. Didn't think of checking the expiration date. It was not until I was getting ready to feed my son that I noticed the date was expired and I was not near a store. I called the store in which I purchased the formula at so they could pull the expired formula off the shelf. CS acted as if it was an inconvenience to take the call and told me to bring it back and they would exchange the formula. I ended up driving into town to get formula at another store and on my way home I stopped by the store to return the formula and get a refund. The CS tried to exchange the item, but when they went to pull another one for me they discovered they were all expired and could not. They refunded me my money and as I was leaving no one was pulling the formula from the shelf. After that experience I did not buy formula from Publix again. To this day, I try to check my items before I purchase them.

[mumof3boys]

It is the publix on the corner of Jiles and Baker. You know what I mean by the traffic around here then!

Occassionally, it wouldn't be a big deal... I understand an occasional overlook... There was a time once where a meat person there, when I asked for a repackage/price correction (on sale, but priced wrong on pkg) looked thru to find me a fresh pkg...But didn't take off the ones that were sell by that day. I don't know what thier policy is supposed to be w/ meat?!

I complained to corporate online? Not sure if it was lakeland or local corporate? But I know it made the manager steaming mad when I complained, but she retained her job thru 3 expiration complaints. I am tired of complaining bc all it does it get me a call from the same manager! I feel like I am wrong for complaining!

I hurt my right arm and right leg, so can't drive right now... My dh has one day off, for us to run all of our errands and do all of our shopping... My dh has only been shopping w/ me since Feb, he thought I was exaggerating about this Publix,lol. Then he bought expired mountain dew there, and I made him return it (I told him to go somewhere else,lol!). We aren't bothering w/ publix this week bc we are so annoyed... I would like them to get their act together! :(

I avoid buying milk/dairy from this publix... I usually check the dates on most things...but not always... This publix is the only one I get expired stuff from (I save most reciepts, so I can even double check WHICH publix the expired item came from).

[carisal]

I'm assuming that your Publix takes EBT?

you should contact the FNS/ USDA with your complaints
FNS Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

any store that takes EBT has periodic inspections including looking for expired foods.... if you contact them I guess they would know to pay closer attention at the location in question. I'm not sure what happens when they discover expired product.

[bamagirl72]

Seriously if this is an oncurring issue, you need to call your local county health department! Where we are, if the hd is called they will inspect and possibly issue warnings. If that doesn't work usually your local news channel would LOVE to do an investigative piece on Publix not pulling discontinued items. Especially on potentionally dangerous expired items like formula or meats! It also could be a liability issue for the store so it would be in their best interest to be proactive in keeping their shelves current.