Some of the items remaining on the shelves at Windsor's Target store are concerning to local shoppers.
During an investigation at the Target at Devonshire Mall on Wednesday, CTV Windsor found expired baby formula as well as some meat products, dairy and pet food that were beyond posted best before dates.
Target Canada is still in the liquidation process, with sales ranging from 20 to 40 per cent off. Since the American retailer announced it would be closing all Canadian locations, the shelves have gradually been thinning out.
Windsor shoppers voiced concern on Wednesday.
“I assume that they're selling me good food that's not expired," says shopper Olivia Rosati. "I think that shouldn't be on the shelves and that's bad."
Another customer, Alex Siddle wasn’t happy with some of the items.
“It's gross. Yeah, it's not good," says Siddle.
There was bacon six days past the best before date, cream cheese nine days beyond the best before date, popcorn 14 days past its best before date and cat food 126 days past the listed best before date.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ‘Best Before’ dates “are not indicators of food safety,” but rather refer to freshness and potential shelf life.
But that's not all. CTV found infant formula showing an expiry date of Nov. 28, 2014. Other formula expired on Jan. 30 and even more formula, expired recently on Feb. 19.
And the CFIA says it shouldn't be on the shelves.
The CFIA posts stringent guidelines online regarding expiration dates, specifically, for formulated liquids and human milk substitutes. Food should not be eaten if the expiration date has passed. They should be discarded.
A store manager says every Wednesday employees go through the food isles and remove anything that is past the best before date. The manager said baby-food items are checked every Monday and Thursday.
The manager told CTV Windsor to call Target's head office, but calls and emails to the company were not returned.
Not all products in the Windsor store were expired or past their best before dates - it was a relatively small amount.
The store manager says she's only received one complaint for a past due product and that was toothpaste. The store replaced to the product to the customer's satisfaction.
She was unaware of any other items on the shelves that were past due.