Do manufacturers dump soon-to-expire foods on the Commissaries?

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 07:33:25 -0400

On base for medical tests so made trip to Commissary. Stocked up on pantry staples & items that are significantly cheaper at Commissary. At home when putting away orange juice noted that the Best By Date on OJ we just bought was Jun 2 vs. Jun 17 on open bottle we purchased at local store last Fri. Got us looking and most dates on items we bought was sooner than items we had in pantry. What goes?

Response by MGySgt James Forward made Apr 20 at 2017 8:52 AM

MGySgt James Forward — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 08:52:43 -0400

I will have to look next time I go to the Commissary. Never noticed that before. Most commissaries are first in-first out so I would be really dumb founded to see any sort of dumping. Might have just been shuffled to the back. I always look for the latest best buy date. Semper FI

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2017 9:55 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 09:55:58 -0400

Now, you have me guessing about that. I shop the stores on base at Offutt AFB about once a month, and never really gave this issue much thought. I do check dates when I'm shopping at civilian stores. I intend to be a whole lot more circumspect at my commissary.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 20 at 2017 11:28 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 11:28:05 -0400

It wouldn't be the manufacturers if that were going on. It would be the distribution system. And a big player in that is the Commissary System itself that has its quirks on what distributors it deals with, how frequently stuff is delivered, etc. Reminds me of the gas station at the NEX whose price is always 8 cents above the outside. When queried, all the NEX says is they contract at a "stabilized price", whatever the hell that means. An extreme example would be the "Garbage Flight" out to Adak. The AF would make sure the C-141 had to sit on a hot tarmac at McChord for no reason. No priority to get it off the ground. The lettuce, etc. would show up ready for the garbage. It has to do with the efficiency, care, and understanding what quantities of what are needed at any given time. Do you really think the Commissary System and NEX has a handle on it like Jeff Bezos?

Response by SFC George Smith made Apr 20 at 2017 12:07 PM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 12:07:52 -0400

never seen it... Just because the Transport time to distribution Points and to The commissaries may be Look would make expiration dates shorter...

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Apr 21 at 2017 9:45 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 21:45:16 -0400

I think you will find that the Commissaries operate almost exactly like the surrounding civilian stores as far as stocking and when they have to pull things from the shelf...

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 25 at 2018 11:41 PM

Maj John Bell — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 23:41:38 -0400

When I was stationed at Camp Pendleton in 83-85, it was an open joke. We never bought produce dairy, or meat on base. When you got home, it was either bad, or it was bad within 1-2 days. Perishables had no shelf life when they came from the commissary. Canned goods typically expired in a week or a month, out in civilian market more like a year. And one time I found the bread man had forgotten to change the plastic tabs on the loaves of bread and they all had safeway tabs on them.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 23 at 2023 1:20 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 13:20:20 -0400

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen solid read and share Brother Jack and that's a fact. Great information.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jul 24 at 2023 2:42 AM

Maj John Bell — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 02:42:19 -0400

Well... the owner of the local rural grocery regularly catches supply chain drivers stocking the shelves grocery with near expiration goods that still have the price tags from the larger grocery chains in the nearby big city.

He also inspects the produce that is delivered and saw a distinct difference in the age of produce he and other rural grocery stores received compared to the larger grocery chains.

Now if it is grown or baked local, he buys local. He also has the local food bank show up at scheduled deliveries. When he refuses a delivery, more often than not the driver's dispatch tells the driver to give it to the food bank and get a receipt.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jul 24 at 2023 9:37 AM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 09:37:37 -0400

Often wondered that myself... I bought apepperoni roll only to open it at home that night and find out it was rancid...smelled to high heaven...When Iooked at the expiration date I saw it had been expired for several weeks but still on the shelf.