Almost everyone has had a bad experience with grocery shopping, getting home, and later opening a carton of milk and realizing its expired. This happens for many reasons but as long as the grocery store takes it down to a minimum then chances are it won’t happen to you.
Aldi obviously doesn’t want to sell expired food, but there may be some products that, for one reason or another, end up in the customer’s hands.
Although accidents can happen, some people are wondering if it’s the norm for Aldi to sell expired food, or food near the expiration date. Let’s find out…
Does Aldi Sell Expired Food?
Aldi doesn’t sell expired food. However, Aldi will discount items that are 5 days or less near their expiration date. Aldi won’t purposely sell expired food unless it was a mistake and fell through the cracks.
In the end, companies makes mistakes, just like that time in Aldi when the sticker said that the expiration date on a package of tortillas was “2-29” but there is not going to be a February 29th until 2024 so an Aldi worker said:
“These products come in frozen. On the day we sell/thaw them, we sticker them for however many days out that it will expire. Unfortunately, this person didn’t realize there are only 28 days in Feb lol so you’re definitely safe to eat it, it should say 3-01.”
But Aldi follows strict regulations regarding food and won’t deliberately sell expired products to consumers.
If you want to know more about Aldi’s food regulations as well as what would happen if you purchase an expired product from Aldi, then keep reading!
What Happens If I Purchase An Expired Product?
If you find yourself having purchased an expired product from Aldi, you can decide to ask for a refund and even get a replacement for your product thanks to Aldi’s return policy and their Twice as Nice Guarantee.
According to Aldi, you’ll be able to get a replacement for your expired product and get your money back after you bring it to the store. But there is an important part of the process, and that is having the receipt.
If you lose the receipt, you might still be able to get it if you provide the details for the proof of purchase to the cashier.
If you can’t get your hands on the receipt, you can still return the product, but you won’t be able to get the Twice as Nice Guarantee. However, you can get a gift card with the same value as the product you want to return.
If you want to read more about Aldi’s return policy, you can read our article and be prepared for the next time you have to deal with something involving returns and refunds at Aldi.
Aldi Food Regulations
Aldi is very strict in some regards, and while some foods such as fruits and vegetables are not as fresh as other grocery stores, you can expect high-quality products despite the low prices.
According to Aldi:
Our Quality Assurance team has also developed strict guidelines in order to meet our high standards, so you can feel good about the food you buy at ALDI. It’s no wonder that every month, over 49 million people shop at ALDI for simply smarter living and to buy healthier, quality foods they’re proud to feed their families.
Also, there are some highlights that showcase Aldi’s commitment to the customers and the quality of food
- Aldi follows all U.S. consumer legislation and safety standards
- All of Aldi’s suppliers must provide a food safety audit for the facilities that make our exclusive brands.
- Every Aldi store must be audited under standards recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
- Aldi regularly samples and analyzes all the products available in their Test Kitchen to make sure that customers are getting the best quality they can provide.
How Long Can Stores Sell Expired Food?
There isn’t a specific time limit for how long stores can sell expired food, and this is because according to the FDA there is no system of laws that cover expiration dates on food, so manufacturers aren’t even obligated to put labels on food unless it’s baby formula.
A lot of the time these labels are just a way to make the customer feel good and safe about purchasing the product, but there are still some indications on how long is food in good condition to sell, and whether a grocery store is as good as its reputation, so if you go to Aldi, Walmart, or Whole Foods, you can trust in what they offer.
To answer the question of how long can stores sell expired food, well they shouldn’t but if they do and it’s definitely expired, you will probably be able to return the product.
What Do Grocery Stores Do With Expired Food?
Yes, every grocery store ends up with expired food at some point, but the question is, how do they deal with it?
First, it’s important to remember the “Sell-By” date, which comes before the actual expiration date. This date is important to grocery stores because it lets them know when to take the product off the shelves.
After that, a lot of grocery stores donate products to food banks and other places with people in need. There is no need to worry about the quality of the products after this date since products are in good condition after the “Sell-By” date, it’s just not in “peak quality”.
You May Also Enjoy:
- Does Aldi Sell Batteries?
- Does Aldi Sell Buttermilk?
- Does Aldi Sell Baby Formula?
- Does Aldi Sell Tofu?
- Does Aldi Have Ricotta Cheese?
- Does Aldi Sell Almond Flour?
- Does Aldi Sell Coconut Milk?
Conclusion…
If you are worried about Aldi selling expired food, don’t be!
Chances are it won’t be a problem for you as a customer. And on the rare chance it is, you’ll be able to get your money back as well as a replacement if you have proof of purchase.
If you don’t have the receipt, you’ll still get your money back in a gift card with the value of the expired product.
Most stores deal with expired foods from time to time, mostly due to mistakes, but keep in mind that these are not always accurate. You may have a product that, according to the numbers it already expired, when in fact it’s still perfectly safe to eat.
This is something that Aldi keeps in mind when selling products 5 days away from expiration at a discount. In the end, it’s up to you.
Still, when in doubt, always check the date. Both the ‘sell by’ and ‘expires on’ one as they differ greatly.