A concerned member of the public took to social media to warn shoppers that expensive or imported goods don’t automatically mean they’re safe to eat.
A Facebook page Complaint Singapore member purchased Kellogg’s Krave cereal from a Sheng Siong supermarket only to discover that it was expired.
“This is to warn everyone not to assume anything sold expensive, imported or off the shelves of a big supermarket chain is safe,” the netizen wrote in a post on Thursday (June 30).
He purchased the box about two weeks ago, on June 12, intending to eat the cereal as a late-night snack.
However, the best by date printed on the box reads June 1, 2022.
“Thanks, Sheng Siong Supermarket, no receipt now except my bank card bill to prove I had a transaction,” the original poster added.
Shoppers are advised to always check expiration dates, as stores can sometimes forget to clear out old items off the shelves.
The topic of eating food past its “best by” date is often discussed by consumers and experts.
For cereals, specifically, those with more fat content are prone to rancidity, according to Sharon Palmer, RDN, of The Plant-Powered Dietitian.
Nuts and oils can make a cereal spoil faster and are subject to oxidization when exposed to heat, light and air.
At the same time, most cereals will still be ok to eat days, weeks, or months past the ‘best by’ date on the packaging, said Jennifer Kaplan, Food Systems instructor at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, to Today.
“You can tell if the nuts in your cereal have become rancid if they have a grassy or paint-like odor … or if they have a dark or oily appearance,” said Kaplan.
“That said, if you eat cereal with rancid nuts or oils, you’re at very little risk. The most common side effect will be an unpleasant taste.”
The Independent Singapore has reached out to Sheng Siong for a statement and will update the article accordingly. /TISG
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