Do you check food use by/best before dates before buying? Possible poll?

[haaammit]

Following on from this thread talking about the difference between the use by date and the best before end date of foodstuffs when you go shopping do you check the dates of items before you purchase them? Obviously supermarkets will try as much as possible to put the shortest dated items at the front of the shelves with the longer dated items at the back. I assume most people will pick up the front item, but I have no issues with ferreting about at the back of the shelves to grab the items with longer dates on them. I often find fridge items with up to 7 days longer use by dates on the at the back, although it's usually 4-5 days. I'm referring to generally chilled stuff that has a shorter use by date than flour or cereals or teabags etc, although I do check those as well.

Am I unusual that I take this approach or is it a common thing? A poll if possible mods? 1: I check the dates and get the longest one or 2: I have a life and just grab the front item

 

[haaammit]

It is called date rotation and you don't deserve to work at a supermarket if you don't make your staff do it. And yes, I take things from the back, and the sell by date on things like bread will be a fundamental part of my reason to buy. Beyond bread, I trust there is adequate turnover of the products to make it a non issue.

Yes, I'm aware of stock/date rotation. I do a weekly shop with a meal plan for that week, so if I can buy say mince with a longer use by date I don't need to freeze it and can just luzz it in the fridge instead of freezing it