A Morrisons customer has raised serious food safety concerns after discovering items in a Too Good To Go surprise bag that were a full 24 hours past their use-by date. The incident highlights potential risks in the popular anti-food waste scheme, which aims to provide bargains while reducing landfill.
Long-Awaited Bargain Turns Sour
After multiple failed attempts to secure a Morrisons Too Good To Go bag over several years, the shopper finally succeeded in ordering a £3.59 fruit and vegetable bag. Previous attempts had been cancelled or intercepted by others using fake barcodes, making this successful purchase particularly anticipated.
Collection proved challenging initially, with store staff appearing unfamiliar with the process and requiring the customer to complete other shopping before returning. Eventually, a smiling assistant handed over a sturdy bag filled to the brim with produce that initially looked promising.
Initial Excitement Turns to Concern
The bag contained baking potatoes, two bags of tenderstem broccoli, two packs of herby potatoes in butter, a bag of carrots, and one head of broccoli that appeared dried and inedible. The customer was already planning that evening's meal when they noticed a critical detail.
The herby potatoes and one bag of tenderstem broccoli were clearly marked with a use-by date of February 26, but the customer received them late on February 27 - a full day after they should have been consumed according to food safety guidelines.
Understanding Food Date Labels
The Food Standards Agency provides clear guidance about the important distinction between use-by and best-before dates. Use-by dates concern safety, while best-before dates relate to quality.
According to FSA guidelines: "A use-by date on food is about safety. This is the most important date to remember. Never eat food after the use-by date, even if it looks and smells ok, as it could make you very ill."
The agency explains that foods with use-by dates typically deteriorate in ways that present genuine food safety risks, unlike products with best-before dates that may simply decline in quality but remain safe to consume.
Official Responses and Refunds
Too Good To Go acknowledged that this particular Surprise Bag did not meet their quality standards, stating: "We are committed to ensuring a positive experience for everyone who saves food with us. While food surplus is naturally unpredictable, we work closely with all of our partners to uphold quality and safety standards."
The company confirmed they have contacted the Hartlepool Morrisons store to remind them of requirements that items past their use-by date should never be included in surprise bags.
Morrisons also apologized, stating: "We'd like to apologise for your experience and we're looking into this internally with the Hartlepool store." The customer received a refund and a £5 voucher, though they emphasized their primary concern was potential illness rather than compensation.
Broader Implications for Food Waste Schemes
This incident raises important questions about quality control in food waste reduction schemes. While Too Good To Go has operated successfully for a decade with participation from numerous supermarkets and food outlets including Greggs, Starbucks, Aldi, Spar, and Premier Stores, this case demonstrates how safety standards can occasionally lapse.
The customer, who had previously taken a break from the scheme after some disappointing experiences, now plans to be much more vigilant about checking contents if they participate again. They noted that without careful inspection, their family could have consumed potentially dangerous food.
This serves as a reminder to all consumers using food surplus schemes to carefully check all items, particularly those with use-by dates, regardless of how fresh they may appear visually or how appealing the overall bargain seems.
