A customer was surprised when he recently bought a ginger beer and saw the expiry date: December 3004.

"I thought soft drinks taste flat after some time," he said.

The alcohol-free beverage called Fiery Ginger Beer has been reported being sold at a Spinneys supermarket branch.

The drink, in a 330-millilitre red can, carries a date-stamp reading "produced on March 2004 and expires on December 3004."

Apparently, the bottom of the can bears the correct expiry date: December 2004.

A few customers informed Gulf News about the incident supporting their claims with proof. They provided a can sample and a receipt.

Smith Warwick, Marketing Manager for Spinneys Supermarket Group in the UAE, clarified: "There is a printing error on the can. The error came from the supplying company in the UK. But underneath the can is the correct date. It reads December 2004.

"The product is 100 per cent safe for drinking. It's almost six months from expiring."

Smith added: "We will continue importing the same beverage from the UK. However, we will also make sure with the supplying company to avoid a similar incident next time."

A supervisor at the Spinneys branch that was selling the beverage said the branch hasn't received any customer complaints so far about the drink. He pointed out that the drink went out of stock two months ago.

But a Spinneys receipt obtained by Gulf News showed that the beverage had been purchased on May 1.