Connecticut’s current laws regarding expiration dates are somewhat unclear, and do not contain provisions making it illegal for grocery workers to alter or obscure the original sell-by date.

“I do not want to infer that any grocery workers in Connecticut are altering the expiration dates on any of their products. However, I do think there should be some safeguards in place to ensure it does not happen in the future,” said Senator Cappiello. “My main concern is the health of Connecticut’s citizens. Meat that is repacked and sold even a day or two after the original expiration date can contain hundreds and thousands of bacteria that can be extremely dangerous or even fatal if eaten. We need to ensure that these meat, poultry, and fish products are fresh and safe for purchase.

A Public Hearing on the bill, An Act Concerning Sell by Dates for Meat, Poultry, or Fish Public was held in the General Law Committee today. The hearing was held in Room 2A of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.