Does Aldi sell expired food? (Must know!)
Almost everyone has had a terrible experience shopping at the grocery store, going home, and then opening a carton of milk and realizing it’s expired. This happens for many reasons, but as long as the grocery store keeps it to a minimum, it won’t happen to you.
Aldi obviously doesn’t want to sell expired food, but there may be some products that, for some reason, end up in the hands of customers.
While accidents can occur, some wondered if it was the norm for Aldi to sell expired or near-expiration food. Let’s find out…
Does Aldi sell expired food?
Aldi does not sell expired food. However, Aldi will discount items 5 days or less closer to the expiration date. Aldi doesn’t knowingly sell expired food unless it’s a mistake and falls through the cracks.
In the end, companies make mistakes, like at Aldi when the sticker said a pack of tortillas had a shelf life of “2-29”, but there won’t be February 29 until 2024, so an Aldi worker said:
“These products are frozen. We label them the day we sell/thaw them, no matter how many days it will expire. Unfortunately, this person didn’t realize that February only has 28 days, so you’re absolutely safe to eat, it should be 3-01. “
But Aldi adheres to strict food regulations and does not knowingly sell expired products to consumers.
If you want to learn more about Aldi’s food regulations and what happens when you buy expired products from Aldi, keep reading!
What happens if I buy an expired product?
If you find yourself purchasing an expired product from Aldi, you can request a refund or even exchange your product in accordance with Aldi’s return policy and their Twice as Nice Guarantee decision.
According to Aldi, you’ll be able to replace expired products 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 a receipt.
If you lose your receipt, you may still be able to get it if you give the cashier your proof-of-purchase details.
If you can’t get a receipt, you can still return the product, but you won’t be able to get Twice as Nice Guarantee. However, you can get a gift card of the same value as the product you’re returning.
If you want to learn more about Aldi’s return policy, you can read our article and be prepared for the next time you have to deal with returns and refunds at Aldi.
ALDI Food Regulations
Aldi is pretty strict in some ways, and while some items like fruits and vegetables aren’t as fresh as other grocery stores, you can expect high-quality produce despite the low prices.
According to Aldi:
Our Quality Assurance team also has strict guidelines in place to meet our high standards, so you can be satisfied with the food you buy at ALDI. It’s no wonder that more than 49 million people shop at ALDI every month in pursuit of a smarter life and buy healthier, higher-quality food that they take pride in feeding their families.
In addition, there are highlights that demonstrate Aldi’s commitment to customers and food quality
- Aldi complies with all US consumer regulations and safety standards
- All Aldi suppliers are required to conduct food safety audits of the facilities where our exclusive brands are produced.
- Every Aldi store must be audited to a standard recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
- Aldi regularly samples and analyzes all products available in our test kitchens to ensure customers are getting the best quality they can offer.
How long can stores sell expired food?
There’s no specific time limit on how long a store can sell expired food, and that’s because under the FDA, there’s no legal system that covers food expiration dates, so manufacturers aren’t even obligated to label food unless it’s infant formula.
A lot of times these labels are just a way to make customers feel good and safe when they buy the product, but there are still some indications of how long the food will last and if the grocery store lives up to its reputation, so if you go to Aldi, Walmart or Whole Foods, you can trust what they have to offer.
To answer the question of how long a store can sell expired food, they shouldn’t, but if they do and it’s definitely expired, you may be able to return the product.
How do grocery stores handle expired food?
Yes, every grocery store will have expired food at some point, but the question is, what do they do with it?
First, it’s important to remember the “Sell-By” date, which is before the actual expiration date. This date is important to grocery stores because it lets them know when to take products off their shelves.
Afterwards, many grocery stores donated products to food banks and other places for those in need. No need to worry about product quality after this date as the product is in good condition after the “Sell-By” date, just not in “peak quality”.
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in conclusion…
If you’re worried about Aldi selling expired food, don’t worry!
As a client, this may not be an issue for you. If you have proof of purchase then in rare cases you will be able to get your money back as well as replace it.
If you don’t have a receipt, you can still get your money back in the gift card, which includes the value of the expired product.
Most stores handle expired food from time to time, mostly due to errors, but keep in mind that these are not always accurate. You may have a product that, based on the number it has expired, is actually still safe to eat.
This is something Aldi keeps in mind when selling products that are 5 days away from expiry at discounted prices. In the end, it’s up to you.
However, when in doubt, be sure to check the dates. ‘sell by’ and ‘expires on’ are very different.
