public void removePickupDatesBefore(Date minDate) { List<String> dates = getDates(); boolean dateRemoved = false; for (String dateS : new ArrayList<String>(dates)) { Date date = new Date(dateS); if (date == null) continue; if (date.isBefore(minDate)) { dates.remove(dateS); dateRemoved = true; } } if (dateRemoved) json.put("dates", dates); }