How is the shelf life of food on food packaging bags calculated?

GB7718-2011 standard defines shelf life as follows: the period during which the quality of prepackaged food is maintained under the storage conditions indicated on the label. Within this period, the product is fully suitable for sale and retains the inherent qualities that are not or have been specified on the label.

Shunxingyuan Packaging, a professional flexible packaging manufacturer, summarizes the descriptions of shelf life on packaging bags into two main types:

Use by: The chances of spoilage are high after the expiration date; it is best not to consume it, such as fresh milk and sandwiches.

Best before: It will not be fresh after the expiration date, but it may not spoil, such as flour, potato chips, and cola.

Note: The shelf life is not the only standard for identifying whether food and other products have deteriorated. Spoilage may occur due to changes in storage methods and environment. Therefore, food should be consumed as soon as possible before the expiration date. The shelf life of opened food will be shortened.

I. How is the shelf life calculated?

Strictly speaking, there are two types of shelf life: technical shelf life and market shelf life.

Technical shelf life refers to the company's production standards (i.e., determined based on test results)

First, in the product development stage, the final product is placed under three conditions—room temperature (20 degrees, dark), light, and accelerated (temperature 70 degrees, humidity 60%). Among them, room temperature fully simulates the actual storage conditions; light exposure observes the effect of light; and the accelerated experiment uses one week to replace one month in reality.

Second, experimental samples at 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and 110% of the time progress are taken for sensory evaluation, physicochemical, and microbiological testing. For example, if the shelf life is 6 months, then under room temperature conditions, samples are taken and evaluated at 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, and 6.5 months; under accelerated conditions, samples are taken and evaluated at 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, and 6.5 months.

Finally, according to the customer's requirements for product sensory quality, different sensory evaluation methods (consumer preference testing, two-three-point method, etc.) are used. If the test results are qualified, it is considered to have passed (generally flavor, color, texture, etc.).

Market shelf life refers to relevant national standards

Based on the product's market distribution, logistics, etc., considering the shelf life of similar products and consumer awareness, a shelf life is determined. However, considering that the product's market circulation is slow, the supermarket's requirements for the shelf life of products on the shelves, and the fact that consumers may hesitate to purchase food with a short shelf life, the market shelf life may be longer, but it must not exceed relevant national standards.

Appendix: The national food regulatory authorities have made the following provisions on the shelf life of some foods.

1. Alcoholic beverages: The shelf life of bottled ordinary cooked beer is 2 months, special beer is 4 months; bottled grape fruit wine is 6 months.

2. Beverages: Fruit soda, fruit-flavored soda, cola, bottled shelf life is 3 months, canned 6 months; bottled juice 6 months.

3. Canned foods: Fish, meat, and poultry canned and bottled shelf life is 2 years; fruits and vegetables canned and bottled shelf life is 15 months; fried dried fruits, ketchup, tinned and bottled shelf life is 1 year; tinned milk powder is 1 year, bottled 9 months, 500g plastic bag 4 months.

4. Sugars: Tinned biscuits 3 months, plastic bag 2 months, loose 1 month; chocolate, filled chocolate shelf life is 3 months, pure chocolate 6 months, loose 1 month; condiments such as soy sauce and vinegar are 6 months.

II. What should I do if I buy expired food?

Article 28 of the Food Safety Law stipulates that "the production and operation of the following foods are prohibited: (8) Foods that have exceeded their shelf life."

If you buy expired food at a supermarket, you can generally return or exchange it. Even if it is close to the expiration date (within 7 days) and you bought it cheaply, you still have the right to return it, otherwise the supermarket will be fined.

Therefore, supermarkets also have shelf life management. A very important responsibility of stockers in supermarkets is to check the shelf life.

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