Qantas could give its passengers the runs, or worse still, food poisoning

[JohnK]

Isn't a use by date a recommendation?

Personally I take little notice of it and I am still alive.

e.g Packet of crisps are put on supermarket shelves months in advance and yet someone can safely stamp a use by date on them months and months, and sometimes years, in advance.

I bought some shoulder ham today with an expiry date of 21/07/2011. I cut it in smaller portions and put it up in the freezer. I will more than likely still be eating the ham in August/September perhaps later.

Meat has a use by date a few days in advance. It is not uncommon to be eating that meat 6-12 months down the track.

Right or wrong that is what I do and there is no way I am going to throw away perfectly good food just because of an expiry date.

 

[burrco]

I bought some shoulder ham today with an expiry date of 21/07/2001. I cut it in smaller portions and put it up in the freezer. I will more than likely still be eating the ham in August/September perhaps later.

:shock: I hope that is a typo!

 

[serfty]

21/07/2001

:shock: I hope that is a typo!

Cryogenics?

 

[JohnK]

:shock: I hope that is a typo!

Yes typing while half asleep is not recommended.

 

[blackcat20]

Use By means that food must be used before that date. It's illegal to sell food past its use by date.

Best before means it may deteriorate after that date but can still be sold and eaten.

Obviously freezing food somewhat negates the date.

 

[simongr]

Wow - some vitriol spilled there at the OP. They were served food out of date - I expect them to be annoyed (though they could tone it down a little).

It would be good to know if the OP actually got sick or not and if they had any travelling companions get sick as well.

I find it hard to believe though that a sandwich that is four days out of date wouldnt be obvious to people. Having worked in the food manufacturing industry (including a bulk sandwich producer) things like this would be very obvious. Especially in sandwiches which live about 24 hours at the maximum.

 

[oz_mark]

I find it hard to believe though that a sandwich that is four days out of date wouldnt be obvious to people. Having worked in the food manufacturing industry (including a bulk sandwich producer) things like this would be very obvious. Especially in sandwiches which live about 24 hours at the maximum.

Which suggests to me that either the date was incorrect, or the sandwiches had been frozen since they had been prepared.

 

[avi8or]

If it was me I would've gone to the lav and put 2 fingers down my throat! Then would've used the $15 voucher to buy a proper lunch in the terminal to settle my now empty stomach.

 

[OverrideServlet]

Seriously?!
So cabin crew duties now include catering and checking expiry or best before dates on food products?!

Yep, this thread is a joke.

I think AFF should actually have a policy with regards to these "Today Tonight" dodgy mechanic style posts when they come from first time posters. This person is hardly demonstrating that they are wanting to contribute anything of value to the community.

QF436 is a MEL-SYD flight is it not? I think a $15 food voucher is an adequate offering.

Sure, if it happened to me I'd feel horrible, but really, it's an unfortunate catering error and the cabin crew responded appropriately.

 

[BAM1748]

I'd request a free scotch or 3 to wash it all down with. :mrgreen:

 

[nlagalle]

Story is here:

Qantas passengers fed 'expired' sangers | Herald Sun

Also was on page 7 of the Herald Sun, 4 pars and a small photo.

 

[markis10]

Yep, this thread is a joke.

I think AFF should actually have a policy with regards to these "Today Tonight" dodgy mechanic style posts when they come from first time posters. This person is hardly demonstrating that they are wanting to contribute anything of value to the community.

As a new member you also need to show some patience as well, this thread is not a joke but simply the case of a traveller reporting his experiences and expectations, exactly what AFF is about, we have a very open and clear policy on acceptable behaviour.


A member complaining about poor food safety by Qantas at a time when QF is plugging the safety angle in its advertising is hardly off topic, and for the record checking food for use by dates should be part of a crews job, the server of the food is legally responsible for ensuring its safe to serve by law.

Story is here:

Qantas passengers fed 'expired' sangers | Herald Sun

Also was on page 7 of the Herald Sun, 4 pars and a small photo.

Only affected the first 4 rows yet took 20 minutes to discover the error, weird!

 

[Mal]

Wonder if the op contacted the media, they contacted them here or as often happens a journo has used a post here as a story base.
---
Posted from a non-Apple device.

 

[OverrideServlet]

simply the case of a traveller reporting his experiences and expectations, exactly what AFF is about, we have a very open and clear policy on acceptable behaviour.

Hrm, I agree with most things you post, this isn't one of them though.

I think AFF is better off without first time posters with an axe to grind. This doesn't look like "simple reporting" to me. But, I would love to see this member go on to post some meaningful questions & commentary.

With all due acknowledgement of my join date and post count; I'm just one of many forum members, but if AFFs policy is to allow these types of threads I think the policy needs to be reviewed.

 

[markis10]

I would rather see the content posted for discussion (which will often provide a more balanced overview of the situation), banning such activity because its content is not to our liking or is a "rant" would not be indicative of a democratic or free speech community. If it lacks credit, it soon falls off the map as far as attention goes!

 

[OverrideServlet]

I would rather see the content posted for discussion (which will often provide a more balanced overview of the situation), banning such activity because its content is not to our liking or is a "rant" would not be indicative of a democratic or free speech community. If it lacks credit, it soon falls off the map as far as attention goes!

I've said my bit, nothing more to add.

 

[kamchatsky]

As a new member you also need to show some patience as well, this thread is not a joke but simply the case of a traveller reporting his experiences and expectations, exactly what AFF is about, we have a very open and clear policy on acceptable behaviour.


A member complaining about poor food safety by Qantas at a time when QF is plugging the safety angle in its advertising is hardly off topic, and for the record checking food for use by dates should be part of a crews job, the server of the food is legally responsible for ensuring its safe to serve by law.



Only affected the first 4 rows yet took 20 minutes to discover the error, weird!

Ahh, so given QF always put me on the last row for all their domestic flights, I should never encounter such problems .... :shock:

 

[markis10]

Ahh, so given QF always put me on the last row for all their domestic flights, I should never encounter such problems .... :shock:

If it takes 20 minutes to do 4 rows you will never get food, and thats a lunch service! The story is now the main one in the news.com.au travel section, no comments yet!

 

[moa999]

If it takes 20 minutes to do 4 rows you will never get food, and thats a lunch service! The story is now the main one in the news.com.au travel section, no comments yet!

That was my reaction as well - would set the world record for slowest service/
If only 4 rows were served, suspect it was more like 2minutes rather than 20min - mind you still enough time to eat most of the sandwich.

Hot beef, cream and horseradish - haven't seen this one...

 

[milehighclub]

FWIW, no we don't check the labels, especially not for a few hundred meals. Even if we did just because one date is ok, also doesn't mean the others would be.

Naturally in the course of serving food, if we notice a weird smell or something wrong, we won't serve it. With up to 400 meals in economy, it would be impossible to inspect every meal, and rely on passengers to let us know if something isn't right (which they do, we report, and offer something as compensation depending on the problem - usually a duty free voucher or bottle of wine)