Yeah, so that QR code or whatever they use is actually a best before code. But is there another way to "check freshness and quality" using a "code" that isn't in effect a date?
Sure, the code could be a meaningless unique ID that can be looked up in a database to obtain salient information such as date and place of manufacture, batch number, when it was put on the shelf, etc. Some of that might even be useful - I'm imagining being able to flag a batch for early removal across all stores.
Bonus points if the code is also read at point of sale. Then you can do statistical analysis and determine how long they're spending on the shelves, and buy someone else's carrots next year if it seems that for some unknown reasons customers don't like the ones from CDC Farms Ltd.
I'm not sure removal of best before dates is actually a good idea, given all the anosmia from COVID-19. I've seen what happens in Postman Piers's fridge when he doesn't have someone with a working nose around...