Lack of expiration date in American products

[Nessa 23]

I'm so sick and tired of not finding expiration date in so many products, ####### is up with that? Is it a secret code that I just can't figute out? As far as I'm concerned the only food that never spoil is honey. Do American food have a secret ingredient that makes them last forever? That's the only explanation I see for the lack of expiration date.

Examples:

Baker's Angel Flake Coconut Sweetened. It doesn't have any expiration date, but it has this thing printed in black 8015E. I read the entire package it doesn't say anything about consume until x date.

In my fridge I have several products, like Horseradish, Olives, they all say ''keep refrigerated after opening'' that's it. No number, no consume in 7 days, nothing.

McCormick Garlic Salt - again, nothing at all. Then a weird number 7159BY ####### does that mean? consume til 1 July 2059?

[SnowyTater 0]

I think the weird letter-number combinations are just tracking numbers in case there's a recall or something, I don't think they're meant to be decodeable by us mere mortals

I think the US like...processes the hell out of everything compared to most other countries, resulting in food that NEVER goes bad theoretically but perhaps doesn't actually qualify as food anymore.

Olives and anything pickled does keep for like...a long time though, all the vinegar. I mean they'll keep good for a year or something, probably longer than you'd have them.

I'd just say test it before eating it if you're worried. I think olives start to form this terrible white scum stuff after like...a couple years xD the smell will change on a lot of things. Bread starts smelling sour. We never pitch our milk at home by the expiration date but by the smell too, depending on the brand it'll be good several days after OR go bad several days before what it actually says.

That is kind of weird about the coconut though, I think I've bought some before that had a date...but it's dried out so I think it'd take a lot for it to go bad. I think the issue with a lot of foods in the US isn't so much when is it unsafe to eat, because that's often never, but when is it too disgusting and cruddy to eat

[Nessa 23]

It just sucks cuz the coconut I''m gonna use 2 tbsp today and I have no idea when I'll need it again. So I'll probably wind up throwing away. It's moist, it can't last that long.

The olives you're right, it forms a white thingy. I'll probably throw away.

The horseradish my husband ate last week. I didn't. Horseradish smells funny as it is, so I can't really tell, I just don't trust cuz I know I bought over a year ago.

[GabiandVi 34]

There should be expiration dates on all food products or medicines. Even water has an expiration date. The date is sometimes on the cap and it is usually stamped after the product is packaged. Often it is very light and the numbers are made up of tiny dots, not very close together. It could be that the date was on the outer packaging. Stupid, I know. But there should be a date. If I remember correctly, the date is usually presented as a number followed by a three letter month abbr., and then the year.

Those numbers you give aren't dates. There aren't any numbers on the label? Vertically along the seam? Sorry. It does sound frustrating.

[Nessa 23]

No. It happens very often I can't find the date anywhere. I know everything is supposed to have a date, but they don't. Nowhere.

Edited March 29, 2008 by Nessa

[SpiritAlight 1]

Perhaps eating all those preservatives will make you live longer.

Bahaha!

I agree, Nessa; it sucks that there are codes and no clear dates.

Idea: put the date on the item in marker of when you bought it and when you opened it.

Then use common sense.

[no name 1]

It just sucks cuz the coconut I''m gonna use 2 tbsp today and I have no idea when I'll need it again. So I'll probably wind up throwing away. It's moist, it can't last that long.

The olives you're right, it forms a white thingy. I'll probably throw away.

The horseradish my husband ate last week. I didn't. Horseradish smells funny as it is, so I can't really tell, I just don't trust cuz I know I bought over a year ago.

I can guarantee it went off. Horseradish doesn't spoil per se, it gets very vinegary & has no spice left in it.

Coconut, if sealed tightly & in the fridge, can last a long time.

[Jenn! 918]

I can never find the dates either. I think it's so you'll play it on the safe side, throw it out, and buy some more!

I use this site though all the time to check how long things can be kept: http://whatscookingamerica.net/Information/FreezerChart.htm

[MissStacey 1]

I am the ultimate superfreak about expiration dates. When in doubt I always throw it out.

I am the only one who cleans out the cupboards and fridge around here. Mel gets mad that I throw half the stuff away- no matter how gross it is. Mel has an iron stomach and never gets sick.

I have had food poisoning before and it was a horrific experience- I never want to go through that again.

[~krakatoa~ 27]

I'm so sick and tired of not finding expiration date in so many products, ####### is up with that? Is it a secret code that I just can't figute out? As far as I'm concerned the only food that never spoil is honey. Do American food have a secret ingredient that makes them last forever? That's the only explanation I see for the lack of expiration date.

Examples:

Baker's Angel Flake Coconut Sweetened. It doesn't have any expiration date, but it has this thing printed in black 8015E. I read the entire package it doesn't say anything about consume until x date.

In my fridge I have several products, like Horseradish, Olives, they all say ''keep refrigerated after opening'' that's it. No number, no consume in 7 days, nothing.

McCormick Garlic Salt - again, nothing at all. Then a weird number 7159BY ####### does that mean? consume til 1 July 2059?

Each product has their shelf-life. Be it food, food ingredient, OTC, cosmetics/personal care, household etc. All must adhere to the FDA regulations and guidelines. Is the product in consideration an import? What country? What type of containers are they kept? If in the can or bottle, sometimes the exp. date are embossed on the upper lid or cap so tiny.

The code you are seeing is not the expiration date, they are the batch codes, when they are made and the lot #. Each company has their own "code". For example, in our company a detergent has a batch code number BZ7J1. 7 being the year it was manufactured, B is the month February, Z is the date 26, J being the assembly line # and 1 the batch number.

I am not sure why there is no expiration date. Food labelling must be different, it may also count if it is imported from another country. There are food and health inspectors (I am told) who should be checking on the shelf life and safety of these products they put out on the shelves for consumers. Stability studies for the product on regulated temp. conditions like Freeze/thaw should also help establish the shelf life (they do microbio testing). If it says "Keep refrigerated after opening", it means it can last longer than 6 months or its shelf life, but without contamination like using a clean spatula or spoon when transfering contents.

I too am wondering why it has to be complicated. But if its for general safety, I am in for it.

I wish I can help more, I'd ask a co-worker on Monday. I am not sure about FDA regulations on food labelling on certain categories like coconut milk.

Edited March 29, 2008 by krakatoa

[Krikit 1,164]

Oh good. I thought I was the only one who was going nuts over the lack of expiration dates on grocery items.

[Nessa 23]

I understand that some items are just difficult to find a date, but some just don't have. Some have in the outside package, so after taking out of the box or whatever it's wise to write on the product pack, plastic, bottle, whatever the date.

Perhaps eating all those preservatives will make you live longer.

Bahaha!

I agree, Nessa; it sucks that there are codes and no clear dates.

Idea: put the date on the item in marker of when you bought it and when you opened it.

Then use common sense.

yeah, I'll start doing that. I only put date when I freeze like chicken. I buy like 24oz and I separate in ziplocks like 4oz and freeze. Then I put the date I froze. But I'll start doing that with the rest.

I can never find the dates either. I think it's so you'll play it on the safe side, throw it out, and buy some more!

I use this site though all the time to check how long things can be kept: http://whatscookingamerica.net/Information/FreezerChart.htm

Yeah I think it's like a conspiracy to make you buy more

thanks for the site

[Jaseball 0]

This is funny. I think we have some really strange dating too, but for different reasons. Some dating is "Don't use after X date." Others are "After this date you have X amount of time to use this." Still others are "Best before," this date or 'Born on," this date.

I hate the best before ones because they are on beer, sodas, chips and these things keep well after those dates. It's more to remind the consumer and the stores to use it up faster and then buy it again.

Spices like garlic powder lose potency, but they don't necessarily go bad. Pickles, condiments, and the like keep far longer than their dates.

Canned goods are harder because many have the coded AXD0922 type codes that usually do have dates, but you need to find the manufacturer and get the translation. About a year ago I went through my canned goods and restocked and had to look up many of the dates.

[Jamie76 0]

A little botulism never hurt no one

[kim&james 0]

Food labeling is something that I have missed badly, In OZ they not only have to put the expiration dates but also the ingredients and not just on canned or preserves but all food products. Even fast food has to list the ingredients they use. McDonalds puts theirs on the paper mats they use on eat in trays, as well as the fat content etc of their products so you really know what your getting.

I do miss the food labeling as it is good to actually read what ####### we really are eating.