With this code, you can call the manufacturer and they can advise you of the exact date of manufacture and/or packing of the product. Lasers are an extremely fast way to apply date codes onto both primary and secondary packaging. Your dog's food's shelf life is measured in months and tells you how long it can maintain its freshness if stored properly. This includes tuna and other canned foods that have a shelf life of two years or more. Dont rely just on the expiration date; follow your instincts. Canned tuna has a shelf-life of 4 years, and foods like Spam, corned beef, chicken chunks, Hormel chili, green beans, kernel corn, pineapples, sweet peas, and others will last for up to 3 years. var f = d.getElementsByTagName( s )[ 0 ], If you have specific questions about a company's product, contact a customer service representative at the phone number listed. Log in, Enter your email below & get a FREE book, "How To Homestead No Mater Where You Live. It calls out the period up until food is at the end of its peak quality. We don't recommend keeping canned food for 100 years, but if the can is intact, not dented or bulging, it is edible.In a well-run supermarket, foods on the shelf will be rotated on a regular basis, so there is continuous turnover. All perishable foods must have an expiration date. Ground Beef. Make sure you smell anything that has gone past its expiration date before you actually consume it. After this date foods may be unsafe to eat even if they look fine because the nutrients in the food may become unstable or a build-up of bacteria may occur. h = d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], By Australian Food standards, foods packaged like this dont need an expiry date due to them being vacuum-sealed and cooked in the pouch. Best before dates are about the quality of the food. 001 stands for January 1st, and 365 stands for December 31st. Fresh produce and packaged foods are marked with one of two dates: a use-by date or a best-before date. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. img#wpstats{display:none} Food Storage Shelf Life: How Long Will It Really Last? Store unopened cans in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator. It calls out the period up until a food is at the end of its peak quality. Most products will last beyond their 'best-before' date if they are stored properly. Read more about use-by and best-before dates. Others only list the month and year 12-2008, or Dec/2008. } )( window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-K98T48X' ); A'best before' date means the food is still safe to eat after the date as long as it is not damaged, deteriorated or perished. Medicines and beauty products generally don't have sell-by dates, unless they contain fresh ingredients. For a sampling of how to read product codes, See Below.Remember, the code stamped on the can is when it was packaged. Fresh meats like pork and beef, whether ground or not, will last for 1-2 days in the fridge past the printed date. var vclk_options = { sid: 8240, placement_id: 'eb8faeb5-8de5-4b5d-1615-5a4aca4ef0e7', version: '1.4' }; Kitchen BasicsBaking & PastryRecipe VideosWorld Cuisine, Example: A195 (July 14, 1999- July 14 is the 195th day of the year), Example: 0195 (July 14, 2000- July 14th is the 195th day of the year). You'll find out how to compare products side by side such as cereals, yoghurts, milks or muesli bars. If you think about it, military food is packed similar to this and lasts well over 2 years. These dates are chosen by the manufacturing company, and it's up to the consumer to decide whether or not to follow them. If letters are used, A=Jan. /*