LOS ANGELES—Many products in Los Angeles food markets were on the shelf after their expiration dates according to a study sponsored by Community Health Councils Inc., reports the Los Angeles Times.
The study, which began in April 2008 and ended in February 2009, was conducted primarily in markets in low-income neighborhoods. In the study, 90 members of the community keep checklists of what they encountered during their food shopping trips at small markets and large supermarket chain stores, with a total of 657 checklists submitted.
The shoppers found at least one expired poultry, beef or dairy product in about one-third of the stores visit. In 18 percent of the visits, residents found at least three expired poultry, beef or dairy items. In five stores that were heavily surveyed, the rates of expired poultry ranged from 19.2 percent to 39.5 percent; the range for expired beef was 20 percent to 41.8 percent; and for dairy products, 26 percent to 45.4 percent.