Packing date question for pork
 

Just curious to find out if anyone has info on what you consider "Fresh" pork. I've been getting some questionable cases of butts lately from my supplier. I assume the packing date on the case is the kill date. So my question - What timeline for a packing date on the case would be considered fresh. My last order came to me on November 20th and the packing date was October 28th. I opened them on November 21st and they were full of juice in the pack (which I find comes from either old butts or previously frozen butts) and not the best in quality which I felt showed up in the end results of the cook. I've not had this problem until recently and just started to pay attention to the pack date and wondered if you all have a "standard" to go by.

I was told by a major packer that the freshness period was 25 days from the pack date for butts and ribs. Looks like you were outside that window.

Those didn't come from restaurant depot did they? I was in a hurry sunday and didn't look until I got to the restaurant, sure enough they were bad. I usually don't buy butts from there.

US Foods

The pork I typically get from my supplier (Wholesome Foods in Edinburg, VA) is rarely over 2-weeks old. Most are only packaged days before I get them.

However, I received a case of pork butts from Sysco on Monday. I'm cooking this case for another food vendor and she picked up the pork from Sysco's Will Call in Harrisonburg, VA, the same day. Those butts were packed November 4th. They're still insode the food safe window, but I've personally never seen pork that old being sold before from a supplier. Hopefully that means there is a low demand and prices will fall :)