I think where the analogy falls apart isn't whether or not there may be expired products on the shelves, it's whether or not the store will make a reasonable effort to make it right and either refund your money or replace the product with one that's known to be good. Most will.

Source: I ditched the techpocalypse at the end of 2024 and now happily work at a grocery store.

That essentially is the case. Grocery stores make a best effort to remove expired foods but you can often find expired food on the shelf in the US.

Go make a stink about it at the customer service desk and they will probably say exactly that.

They… will not say that, because they get a large fine if you report them. Every store I've been too has been deeply apologetic when this has happened (a small handful of times in my entire life).

In a lot of the US it is entirely legal to sell expired food. Near me there are grocery stores that specialize in “close to expiration” food, for a discount.

Rewe in germany also has some things discounted when close to expiration as well, but it has a fat red/white label on it indicating it (usually meat products)

Outside of a few states and a few product types (baby formula), they won't be fined. But yes, customer service usually swaps it out.

I feel like supermarkets more or less do tell you this--I get expired crap all the time if I don't check myself.

Of course, you can do your own due diligence at the supermarket before you part with the cash.

Where are you located, generally?

New England