Asda ranked freshest in UK supermarket shelf life study

A consumer investigation by Which? has ranked UK supermarkets based on the shelf life of fresh grocery deliveries. Using 12 mystery shoppers to order 29 perishable items, the study found that Asda provided the freshest products, with use-by dates averaging 11 days from the time of delivery.

In contrast, Waitrose was identified as having the shortest average shelf life at approximately 7 days. Waitrose specifically ranked lowest for several items, including bread, scones, fresh pasta sauce, houmous, and pork sausages. The investigation also noted instances where items like beef mince and chicken thighs had less than two days remaining before their expiration.

Waitrose responded to the findings by stating a commitment to high-quality products and noting that they have removed preservatives from certain items, such as houmous, to meet consumer demand for simpler ingredients. The retailer maintained that their online pickers are trained to select the longest-dated products available.