British tabloids were all over the story of Cardiff Foodbank, in one instance, receiving Green Giant canned corn niblets from 1982, opening it, admitting it "looks like it's okay," smelling it and realizing a "very strong metallic […] sweetcorn" isn't so sweet after all.
35 year-old tin of sweetcorn donated to foodbank; they decide to open it (via @cardifffoodbank) pic.twitter.com/W6aikQDsRS
— Julian Druker (@Julian5News) October 6, 2017
And yet, it gets even worse.
It's a record!! Never had a donation with 10d on before! Please could we remind everyone that food donated needs to be in date! Thank you :) pic.twitter.com/EVf5qMulA6
— Cardiff Foodbank (@CardiffFoodbank) October 5, 2017
The food bank received a can of Heinz soup that the company confirmed had been discontinued more than 35 years ago. The "10d" on the soup can is indicative of a pricing system not used in the UK since 1971. You do the math.
So, how does this happen?
Helen Bull of the food bank speculated when commenting to the Sun that “probably what’s happened is that it is harvest time and lots of people clean out their cupboards and donate items that they have never used and don’t really look at them.”
She also said that when "an older person dies the family will clean out the cupboards and they want to donate and don't necessarily realise that it was out of date."
Wow! That soup was discontinued over 35 years ago. Should be in a museum rather than a food bank! :)
— Heinz (@HeinzUK) October 5, 2017
:) :) what's it worth?! :) :)
— Cardiff Foodbank (@CardiffFoodbank) October 5, 2017
10d was 10 pence back in the day. Back when it was shillings and pence and all that jazz.
— Overblown (@OverblownZine) October 6, 2017
Hahahaha. This would be why we make sure our stock rotation is done! https://t.co/e9YXjqAzoo
— New Mills Food Bank (@NewMillsFBank) October 6, 2017
Just to be clear if you're donating to @CausewayFdbk. It HAS to have at least a month before it's 'eat' date! #NothingOutOfDatePlease https://t.co/rHvXztZdD1
— sue (@SueJGibson) October 6, 2017
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