I noticed it too -- about two weeks ago. Around the same time I was horrified at how much food costs now. I tend to buy more frozen stuff than I ever have before due to these two factors. Good thing I don't really like milk products, as those things rarely get bought anymore...

I actually noticed this myself. I have always checked dates, having been stuck with expired formula in the past. Always careful with the baby food, made me more careful with all food.

Bread, at both Vons and Ralphs, the expiration date can be that day or just a couple of days later. Before I'd have at least a week, almost ten days, until the fresh/sell by date.

Milk, also, not as long as it used to be.

I had bought some taco seasoning, figuring that stuff lasts forever. Nope. It all expired. And, I only recently started buying this stuff so it isn't that old. Went to buy more and most of the expiration dates were in August. I found a few that were January '09 and one for April 09 but the rest were to expire pretty quickly.

It isn't right, I don't like to use old food. And, if you call, they tell you not to eat it, also. I had a bunch of Mac & Cheese that was less than a month past its' date and called, they told me not to eat it.

I'm also buying more frozen or else buying only what I plan to consume in a few days. This is NOT good for budgeting! You should be able to buy for over a week and then some to help the dollar stretch.

And, I am not just saying this because I work at the bullseye but I've noticed their prices on a lot of things are way better than the markets. And, comparable on a lot of other things.

Maybe they're putting less preservatives in there?

I tend to buy my canned, dry goods and some frozen things at Target. They are a lot cheaper the the grocery store. Well a lot cheaper if you can resist buying electronics, DVDs and all the other wonderful stuff they carry.

I buy produce, eggs and dairy at Henry's (double ad Wednesday's) and if I need meat I'll hit Ralph's (do that maybe once a month).

I'm trying to think what I buy regularly that has an expiration date on it. Cheese and yogurt are the only dairy staples I buy (and they get eaten pretty quickly). I rarely buy bread. Meat gets frozen until use. I regularly have fruit and veggies go bad, but that's just our normal MO when things get busy.

Of course, I'd probably notice more if I checked expiration dates before using. ;) If it's not green and fuzzy, it's good.

You made me think of George Carlin's Icebox Man routine.

Does this mean that Kermit is bad?

I had noticed this too and asked my local grocer. He said they aren't getting deliveries as often with the price of gas. He lso said the bakery had cut back because they were trying to not waste as much. It was the milk that got my attention because instead of having two weeks to drink it's usually one now.

You can freeze bread too, if you eat it really slowly. My bread eating rate actually went up since I'm home and trying to eat sandwiches for lunch to save money. Speaking of which, I've finally found a wheat bread I like: Sara Lee's Honey Wheat. It's tasty!

Now that you mention that, Morri, a friend of mine used to freeze milk. Yep, if milk gets bad that much quicker, then, it will get bad in our house.

I try and offset that by buying cereal and having the kids eat it for snacks instead of other stuff.

But, so, this means that they are making less deliveries and the stores are stocking up on it and putting it out as needed? So, the thing is to know when they receive their deliveries so that if it is close, you might just wait for the next fresh shipment?

And, we will eat the bread as long as it isn't moldy or smells bad. The kids don't know...I dont tell them. ;)