Are there any laws in Qatar about 'date stamping' fresh produce?

jauntie
By jauntie

I mean the 'packed on', 'sell by', 'consume by', 'expiry date' information on, say, pre-packed fresh fruit and veg and frozen food.

Mega-Mart at Ramada seems particularly bad at giving this information and, although I should by now know better, on Tuesday I bought some pre-packed raspberries there which had no information next to the words 'packed on' or 'exp date'. Consequently when I opened them on Wednesday half of them were mouldy.

I have noticed quite a few shops omit this information and wondered if they are obliged by law to give the dates.

By kelburgh• 2 Feb 2008 11:54
kelburgh

These eggs show that they have a three month validity period..

How can this possibly be? Fresh eggs which are kept cool, only have a max period of 35 days, I am led to believe? Therefore,I really do not understand how we can find eggs in Doha stamed Jan 2008 - April 2008 on the box?

By pt1985• 16 Sep 2007 20:30
pt1985

anyone have any recent specific examples of places mistreating their customers like this?

By dweller• 27 Aug 2007 22:25
dweller

Aberdeen was nice thanks (varied 17C to 24C) thanks. In fact the grandkids were swimming in the river at the end of July. We visited our old home Doncaster (after the floods thank goodness).

Air-conditioning in Turkey? Of course! Most shops have air-con unless you are in the market. The villa is air-conditioned as is the araba (car).

We are somewhat developed diamond girl. When did you last visit Turkey?

By diamond• 27 Aug 2007 19:24
diamond

What was the temp in Aberdeen? I think it's usually a cool summer there? Do you have airconditioning in Turkey in most places?

________________________________________________________________

'Love is the answer...'

By dweller• 27 Aug 2007 19:21
dweller

Turkey has been hot hot hot so we stayed in Aberdeen for five weeks instead of three. Enjoyed seeing the grandkids. Thanks for asking.

Back in Turkey now and it's still hot.

By dweller• 27 Aug 2007 19:19
dweller

I have absolutely no idea. Maybe I have been chosen but I dread to think what for!

By novita77• 27 Aug 2007 19:16
novita77

yes i did , and i put my respond underneath it with the arrow. Sorry if i confuse you lol...

By diamond• 27 Aug 2007 19:12
diamond

Salam Dweller, tell me please, how did you get your avatar next to your comments?

How has the summer been in Turkey and bonnie Scotland?

________________________________________________________________

'Love is the answer...'

By dweller• 27 Aug 2007 19:08
dweller

Did you repeat my comment about DAGOC on the previous page or is it gremlins?

By sentibhim• 27 Aug 2007 19:05
sentibhim

aha jaunti some of the fruit in tree are also not fresh.

"Drink Beer Save Water"

By jauntie• 27 Aug 2007 19:03
jauntie

if it's still on the tree pluck it down and eat it fresh

if it's on the ground looking brown don't eat, it cos that's how cows get inebriated!

By osla11• 27 Aug 2007 19:01
osla11

iam confused regarding the age of fruits can any one tell me the production and expiary date of apple plugged from the tree?

By diamond• 27 Aug 2007 18:57
diamond

still fresh and nowhere near my expiration date thank you very much you cheeky so and so!!! lol...just you wait until Jauntie reads that!

________________________________________________________________

'Love is the answer...'

By DaRuDe• 27 Aug 2007 18:57
DaRuDe

No I dont need to check that with the doc :/

[img_assist|nid=21285|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=180|height=180]

By jauntie• 27 Aug 2007 18:56
jauntie

Do you still have 'EMPIRE MADE' stamped on your botty? :P

Just realised, you are too young to remember when goods had that stamp on them :D

By DaRuDe• 27 Aug 2007 18:51
DaRuDe

well funny thing i was going to ask Jauntie and you whats ur birth year like the way we see on products date of production and expiry date :(

[img_assist|nid=21285|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=180|height=180]

By diamond• 27 Aug 2007 18:49
diamond

DaRuDe, what's funny about fruit and veg? Am I missing something or is it just your wacky sense of humour...lol...?!

_______________________________________________________________

'Love is the answer...'

By DaRuDe• 27 Aug 2007 18:44
DaRuDe

i agree should complaint even i caught few groceries seeling expired products.

( was going to comments some thing really funny and silly) but dont want qatari to come up with another warrant :(

[img_assist|nid=21285|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=180|height=180]

By diamond• 27 Aug 2007 18:39
Rating: 2/5
diamond

I think it is SO important to inform the Municipality about food complaints. I know they are working hard to improve standards throughout the country and as well as their staff they rely on the general public buying food items to inform them of any bad practices. So next time please don't keep it to yourself or just inform the shop. Call the Municiplaity and make a complaint. that will really help to raise the standards.

Personally, I think Giant supermarket has the best fruit and veg in the country. Of course there's no beating the fruit and veg souq if you have the time and can bear the heat.

________________________________________________________________

'Love is the answer...'

By novita77• 27 Aug 2007 18:17
novita77

"It had gone in 2004 when I was with DAGOC.

I understand the Al-Ghazal Club at RAA is going soon too."

-----> thats what i heard ...

By jauntie• 27 Aug 2007 18:08
jauntie

I call the mega mart at The Centre 'The Ramada mega mart' (cos I go in there after I have been to The Ramada for a swim) lol The other mega mart being at Landmark.

Sorry for the confusion.

By techdoctor• 27 Aug 2007 12:10
Rating: 4/5
techdoctor

The Center and Ramada are close to each other. In fact Ramada laundry service is located just outside Center. You can take both as the same place.

By jauntie• 26 Aug 2007 16:39
jauntie

I shop there, sweetheart

By jauntie• 26 Aug 2007 16:38
jauntie

well I don't do Maggie stuff and I checked my toothpaste which contains monofluorophosphate. Fluoride I suppose.

As for sweeteners and diet drinks, I've lived on those since I was a teenager!

By anonymous• 26 Aug 2007 16:37
Rating: 4/5
anonymous

There is no Mega Mart at Ramada. It is at the Centre.

By dweller• 26 Aug 2007 16:32
dweller

It had gone in 2004 when I was with DAGOC.

I understand the Al-Ghazal Club at RAA is going soon too.

By anonymous• 26 Aug 2007 14:46
Rating: 3/5
anonymous

jauntie ..honest no jokes..these things are really harmfull.

Have you ever heard of non-floride toothpaste? Chances are 99% on this board doesnt. But Non-Floride toothpaste are available and are quite good. Indian brands of NF toothpaste are: Meswak, Amar, Vicco etc.

Maggie cubes comes along with the maggie noodles.

Most of the Pilots are asked to refrain from Softdrinks (aspertame) before flying planes.

By jauntie• 26 Aug 2007 14:26
jauntie

I just read it all again, and I seem to suffer from lots of those things! I'm going for a lie down.

By jauntie• 26 Aug 2007 14:24
jauntie

cos I only have to buy some of that and I complete the full trio of bad things and should be dead within minutes of purchasing it!

By anonymous• 26 Aug 2007 14:19
Rating: 4/5
anonymous

What about Aspertame sweetners, Floride in toothpast & Monosodium Glutamate in food?

Bad Effects of Aspertame (used in all sugar free items eg Nutrasweet):

Headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.

Bad effects of Floride: Floride in itself is poison

damages the bones, and interfere with the functioning of the brain, thyroid gland, pineal gland, kidney, and reproductive system.

Bad effects of Monosodium Glutamate (aka Ajinomoto): commonly used in the Maggie tastemaker:

Irreversable brain damage,damage to retina.The phenomenon isn't restricted to the retina but occurs throughout the brain and is called excitotoxicity, leading to cell death.

symptoms are:

burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest

numbness in the back of the neck, radiating to the arms and back

tingling, warmth and weakness in the face, temples, upper back, neck and arms

facial pressure or tightness

chest pain

headache

nausea

rapid heartbeat

bronchospasm (difficulty breathing)

drowsiness

weakness."

But these are still available openly in the market & most are targeted towards children.

By KellysHeroes• 26 Aug 2007 09:24
KellysHeroes

This is unfair :(((((((((((

Well, I will manipulate my expiry date :))))))))))

By jauntie• 25 Aug 2007 16:00
jauntie

Well that REALLY cheered me up! lol

I just took you off my Christmas Card list :P

By KellysHeroes• 25 Aug 2007 15:47
KellysHeroes

I remember there was a "prestigious" supermaket in Muscat, called Prisunic. They were practicing expiry date manipulation with the consent of the French Manager.

Well. We are here discussing expiry dates and some apparent damage/rotten food stuff. It is our right since we are paying good money to get what we are supposed to get.

The most worrying issue is what's inside the food that we cannot see or feel or smell or taste. Am talking about the illegal chemicals/preservatives. Let aside the initially "not for human consumption" raw materials that is re-processed and manufactured and we the consumers are eating junk at the end without knowing it.

No wonder that the rate of cancer is increasing and every business interest is throwing it on others. Let aside the rare diseases that in my opinion are not rare anymore. Did we forget about nuclear radiations in food.

These days, one would be very lucky to cross the 50 years age barrier without having a serious disease.

By novita77• 25 Aug 2007 15:20
novita77

Falcon club is a history now... no more there ... still waiting for the replacement for the recreation centre. Inshaallah ....

By jauntie• 25 Aug 2007 08:02
jauntie

nowt so queer as folk, eh?

By dweller• 25 Aug 2007 08:00
Rating: 4/5
dweller

Interestingly, this reminds me of a situation that came about in the 80's when we were importing for a "Commonwealth Night" at the late Falcon Club.

We had dozens of veal & ham (yes ham) pies on order and, when they arrived, customs wouldn't let them in as they were not individually date stamped. Only the box was stamped.

It was only when our DEM, Ahmed Hassan Bilal went down to customs to see the Director that they were allowed in.

By jauntie• 25 Aug 2007 07:17
jauntie

Point taken. But seriously, where food is concerned no-one can afford to take chances with their, and their family's, health - and that goes for every country around the world.

Also it's just not very nice to sell rotten food to the unsuspecting consumer! :D

By Majnoon Ajnabi• 25 Aug 2007 05:05
Rating: 4/5
Majnoon Ajnabi

I think they should correct this country and make it exactly like where we came from, that would include the pay and taxes of course.

I will not condemn you for what you did yesterday, if you do it right today.

Sheldon S. Maye

By novita77• 25 Aug 2007 01:50
Rating: 3/5
novita77

Once we went there ... we saw one of the stuffs ripping off the sticker of sale by date and putting of the new one. Fresh sticker same fruits and vegs

By jauntie• 23 Aug 2007 18:57
jauntie

I started this thread and now you have me REALLY worried. I'm making a Spanish Omelette tonight and I just shot out to the kitchen to check the eggs! hahahaha

Tried one, and it seems ok so fingers crossed the rest will be too.

Shame really, because when I mentioned the 'egg problems' to hub he suggested getting a curry instead. Harrumph!

By anonymous• 23 Aug 2007 18:48
anonymous

sunshines on floor

By techdoctor• 23 Aug 2007 18:41
techdoctor

I understand :)

I once dropped a pack of eggs accidentally and make a mess of Carrefour. I volunteered but they wouldn't let me pay though. That makes it up I guess.

By taliesin• 23 Aug 2007 18:35
taliesin

a Thanksgiving turkey from a Texas supermarket once, when I got it home and opened it up I was nearly gassed! Soon marched back with it and got money back, can't remember what we ate intead though! =S.

***********

"There's this thing called being so open-minded your brains drop out". - Richard Dawkins

By anonymous• 23 Aug 2007 18:35
Rating: 2/5
anonymous

Eggs are never same in summer. Mercury is too harsh on innocent eggs, transfering them from storage houses to vehicles ( I know they have cold storages) few mins of heat is enuf to make them go rotten

By jauntie• 23 Aug 2007 18:23
jauntie

I bought a lollo rosso lettuce (pre-packed) from mega-mart by The Ramada yesterday. I am about to take it out of the fridge to wash it - perhaps I should put my rubber gloves on and a face mask and stand well back! :P

I will report back ....

I will certainly make a point of telling the management in ANY store I go into next time if I don't see those crucial dates on display on the packaging!!!

By techdoctor• 23 Aug 2007 18:17
Rating: 4/5
techdoctor

Similar thing happened to me...

I bought eggs from citicenter - carrefour a month ago and of the 24 in the pack, about 10 were foul. Some people feel that making a complaint of these 'small things' is being too immature. We go to the big malls on the belief that they have already done the quality control on our behalf! We might as well start shopping in the smaller shops in the souqs and every corner.

---

What's more mortifying than to learn that you have lost the cherry for want of courage to shake the tree?

By tiger9p• 23 Aug 2007 17:56
Rating: 5/5
tiger9p

Pretty scarely to have to kind of produce in the market. I will be more careful when I shop for fresh produce then. (Won't have to shop there until October)

By jauntie• 23 Aug 2007 14:29
jauntie

Sounds like stuff if being left out in the heat for too long ...

By taliesin• 23 Aug 2007 14:18
Rating: 4/5
taliesin

of cranberry-raspberry juice from Megamart Landmark - all were off - strange colour and nasty taste. When I removed the arabic stickers slapped over the sell-by date, the sell-by date had obviously been rubbed out as well. And this wasn't even from the chilled section, but the long-life stuff. Had to pour it all away. Goodness knows how long and where it had been hanging about. You have to be careful and watch out for this kind of rip-off.

***********

"There's this thing called being so open-minded your brains drop out". - Richard Dawkins

By stealth• 23 Aug 2007 14:17
stealth

even the prices have to be displayed properly.

If a cockroach or any other creepy crawlers/mice are found eve then action will be taken by the authorities on the basis of complaint from the consumer as well.

By jauntie• 23 Aug 2007 14:02
jauntie

Next time I will speak to a manager in the store. I very often take good to an assistant just to check the price, cos sometimes that isn't there either lol

Isn't being a pioneering shopper just TOO exciting, darling! *flips hair over shoulder with back of left hand and shimmies out of forum* :P

By stealth• 23 Aug 2007 13:47
Rating: 4/5
stealth

There are laws regarding the date stamping and they are very strict regarding the same. IF you give them a complain and show them the product action will be immediate and swift withou mercy.

By KellysHeroes• 23 Aug 2007 12:19
KellysHeroes

if you post the suggestion here, afraid you would be banned :D

By anonymous• 23 Aug 2007 12:18
anonymous

I agree with you here. However, also I do have one more thing which really irritates me when buying groceries, is buying fresh cheese slices if they would only put a piece of greaseproof paper between each slice it would be much easier to sepparate them. They always stick together.

By jauntie• 23 Aug 2007 12:13
jauntie

they could stick the Arabic interpretation anywhere - in fact I may even make a suggestion as to where next time! ;o)

By KellysHeroes• 23 Aug 2007 12:08
Rating: 2/5
KellysHeroes

Am afraid you are itching to create troubles for somebody today:D

You have to make a fuss. Even you can call the municipality. They have those instructions and contact numbers everywhere in supermarkets. Well let me know if those numbers did not reply or you were not greeted properly.

I agree with you about the Arabic stickers. It is so stupid thing.

The poor Carrefoure was closed for one month coz they found one rodent there. Am sure the rodent came from wholesale market in an onion bag.

By jauntie• 23 Aug 2007 11:51
jauntie

I was wondering whether to go and make a fuss about it at Mega Mart. I have bought fresh veg (like loose parsley) from them before now and on one occasion when I went to get it out of the veg drawer of the fridge, I later found a cockroach - yuk.

But that's different to stuff that's pre-packed. I will have a go at them next time I'm in there.

The other moan I have is when shops stick Arabic stickers over the list of ingredients or nutritional values (fat, calories etc). That really annoys me! lol

By anonymous• 23 Aug 2007 11:38
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

The Ministry of Agriculture and Municipal Affairs are in charge of this and you may have seen at varios times that in Carrefour and in LuLu and also in the Centre the part food markets are closed down for cleanliness and selling food which date has already expired. You can make a formal complaint although they have inspectors checking this regularly.

By anonymous• 23 Aug 2007 11:18
Rating: 3/5
anonymous

There is a law for this one and they are obliged to give those informations.

Cheers!

[img_assist|nid=23961|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=135|height=180]

"I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone, I never find a companionable solitude"

By DaRuDe• 23 Aug 2007 11:14
DaRuDe

Go to my farm house the trees are full of dates but NOT DATE STAMP ON THEM. eat as much you want get as much you want but hey got no ladders u have to climb those huge trees can you do it??

[img_assist|nid=21285|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=180|height=180]

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