WALK through any supermarket aisle and you’ll find products tagged with bright red stickers promising deals — “special offer,” “value pack,” and sometimes “buy one, get one free.”

For many shoppers, it’s a welcome sight in tough economic times. But some are beginning to wonder whether those specials always mean what they suggest.

In a mini poll conducted by the Jamaica Observer, several shoppers said they had come across products on “special” that were close to their expiry or best-before dates. Others, however, deemed the deals to be genuine, offering samples of new products or greater value in quantity as retailers compete for shoppers’ attention.

The poll was prompted by this reporter’s personal experience following the purchase of a case of to ddler juice on September 30 that was bundled with a snack pack marked “special offer”.

After returning home and taking a closer look, it was discovered that the snack pack carried a manufacture date of June 25, 2025, and an expiry date of October 12, 2025 — days away from the purchase date.

The situation isn’t unique.

“I picked up ‘buy one, get one free’ oats already and when I opened it, weevil [bugs] in there. I had to take it back…,” said Andre, a regular supermarket shopper who looks out for deals.

“They had not expired but they were close to the expiration date,” he continued.

But bugs or not, Andre openly admits that he continues to scour the shelves for deals to feed his growing family. He maintains that the occasional one-off unpleasant occurrence won’t deter him from saving hundreds of dollars on bundled grocery deals.

“I will always look out for the package deals; sometimes you get a mackerel free when you purchase three, sometimes an extra crackers, two-for-one cereal and so on and many times they are actually real promotions, meaning they are no where close to the expiration date. There is one particular supermarket that you can go and always get some extras… but you’re not going to get them at the wholesales or downtown because sometimes those same vendors buy them and sell them in singles,” he said.

Another shopper, Crystal, wasn’t as enthused about her deal as Andre. Recently, she picked up a box of large pancake mix on “special offer”, thinking she was saving a few dollars.

“I wanted to try something different for breakfast, and it had chocolate chips in it, so I was excited to try it,” she said. “I used it maybe once or twice, but then my mother came to me and asked if I knew the product was about to expire. After that, I didn’t use it anymore because I wasn’t sure if it would have any side effects.”

“So I didn’t really end up saving any money because I threw away more than three-quarters of the product,” she added.

The Business Observer reached out to a few retailers on the matter, and one insisted that’s not the norm.

Shopper’s Fair, one of the island’s major supermarket chains, was contacted for comment but had not responded up to press time. Hi-Lo Food Stores, however, was more forthcoming, noting that promotions form an essential part of how it does business — both to give customers value and to manage stock efficiently.

“Promotions are thoughtfully planned to deliver value to our customers while supporting our business goals,” the company said in a written response. “Products may go on special to introduce new or seasonal items, in partnership with our brand partners. These promotions use attractive pricing to encourage customers to try them.”

Hi-Lo explained that discounts are also used to keep inventory moving, ensuring that shelves stay fresh and relevant. In some cases, that may include items approaching their best-before date — but not expired.

“When products approach their best-before date we may offer them at a reduced price or bundle them in value deals (eg ‘Buy One, Get One Free’). This is a common practice locally and helps ensure good products are enjoyed before their quality window closes. When this is the case, we make every effort to ensure our customers clearly understand these offers and can access details easily,” the retail grocery business said.

It continued: “Importantly, we have clearly articulated standards used to govern these promotions and will never promote or sell expired goods.”

According to Hi-Lo, its stores follow a first-in, first-out stocking method, supported by daily vendor checks to remove expired goods before they reach consumers.

“Our vendor merchandisers regularly rotate stock and remove expired items. These checks are part of our daily operations to maintain high standards,” the company said.

Still, the company admits the wider retail landscape could benefit from clearer standards.

“Greater consistency across the food retail sector would help shoppers better understand promotions,” Hi-Lo said.

“At Hi-Lo, we support clear labelling and designated clearance areas where possible. Deep discounts or bundled offers often signal near-dated items, and we always aim to make that distinction clear. Additionally, we encourage customers to always inspect products carefully, checking both the packaging and overall condition before purchase,” the retailer continued.

While retailers frame these offers as good business, the broader picture is a bit more nuanced.

When contacted, the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) said there are no formal guidelines regulating how discounts or promotions are managed, leaving oversight largely under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.

“The provision of the Consumer Protection Act guides the transactions between seller and buyer,” the CAC told the Business Observer.

The State agency said it monitors market access, availability, and pricing, but works alongside the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) and the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA) to monitor the safety of goods and initiate recalls, which may include confiscating and removing items from retailers if they are proven to pose a health risk to consumers.

Health experts draw a clear line between date labels.

According to the Food Standards Agency in the United Kingdom, “use-by” dates are about safety; consumers should not eat food after this date, even if it looks and smells fine — especially for ready-to-eat meats, dairy, and prepared salads. Meanwhile, “best-before” dates relate to quality, not safety, and many shelf-stable items can still be eaten after this date if stored properly, though flavour or texture may decline.

However, the risks rise with highly perishable foods because listeria monocytogenes or other food-borne bacteria can grow at refrigerator temperatures. Vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, older adults, and those with weakened immunity face the greatest danger, and health agencies advise avoiding high-risk chilled foods past their use-by date and reheating deli meats to steaming hot if consumed.

To date, the CAC said it has not received any reports around the issue and that consumers usually return the item to the point of purchase if they have a challenge. In the meantime, it encourages consumers to be alert.

“The CAC would like consumers to be more vigilant during inspection of the items, ensuring that items sold on ‘special’ are tested, and that a warranty and a receipt are issued for said items. Seek assistance from the CAC to have the item exchanged if there is a challenge,” the CAC said.

“We also encourage consumers to read labels — not just for expiry dates but also for ingredients that may be harmful for those with allergies or certain health conditions. Person can be seriously harmed if they consume certain ingredients or more than the allowable amount in a single serving. There are 50 common names used for sugar and nearly 300 names used on packages. Salt or sodium can also be disguised in the foods consumers tend to purchase weekly,” it added.

It’s a reminder echoed in other markets where discounting near-expiry items is common. In the United Kingdom, “reduced to clear” labels are mandatory and overseen by Trading standards. In the United States, supermarkets can legally sell near-expiry goods if they remain safe for consumption, but the expiration date must be visible.

In Jamaica, there’s no such rulebook, but the CAC, for its part, says it continues to use public education campaigns to promote smarter shopping.

“Industry standards are monitored by the manufacturer in the country of origin and at port in Jamaica. The CAC is constantly seeking new ways to increase its current public education campaigns on social media and traditional media, expos, forums, etc, to protect consumers from misleading promotions and advertisements,” it said.

The Consumer Affairs Commission is urging consumers to read labels carefully, not just for expiry dates but also for ingredients that may be harmful for those with allergies or certain health conditions. It also encourages consumers to join the Ministry of Health and Wellness Know Your Numbers campaign to reduce the incidence of non-communicable diseases among the population which data indicates is contributing to the increase in hospitalizations and death among Jamaicans.

For some consumers, supermarket “specials” offer real savings, but for others, they come with a closer look at the fine print.

Retailers say promotions help customers save and manage inventory efficiently, even as concerns grow over near-expiry goods.