Understand the shelf life of pre-packaged food
Pre-packaged food refers to food that is pre-packaged in fixed quantities or prepared in packaging materials and containers. It includes food that is pre-packaged in fixed quantities and food that is pre-prepared in fixed quantities in packaging materials and containers, and has uniform quality or volume labeling within a certain quantity range. In order to help consumers scientifically understand the production date and shelf life of pre-packaged food, the following consumer tips are provided.
1. Production date
According to the national food safety standards, the production date (manufacturing date) of pre-packaged food refers to the date when the food becomes the final product, which also includes the packaging or filling date, that is, the date when the food is packed (filled) into the packaging or container to form the final sales product.
II. Shelf life
The shelf life refers to the period during which pre-packaged food maintains its quality under the specified storage conditions indicated on the label. The shelf life represents the most important commitment made by food producers and operators to food quality and safety, which is the minimum period during which the quality and edibility of food are guaranteed under the indicated storage conditions. Expired food has deteriorated in quality and may pose unsafe risks, and is not allowed to be sold.
The shelf life can be indicated as "xx months (or xx days, or xx days, or xx weeks, or x years, etc.)", or as "best consumed before..." etc. Therefore, the storage conditions of the food should also be indicated on the label, such as "room temperature", "frozen", "refrigerated", "stored in a dark or cool dry place", etc. If live probiotic yogurt, chilled seafood, etc. are not stored, transported, and sold under low temperature conditions throughout the entire process, the quality of the food will decline, nutrients will be lost, and there may be food safety risks. It is best not to purchase them.
III. Labeling of multiple pre-packaged food items within the same pre-packaging
When a single pre-packaging contains multiple individually pre-packaged foods with indicated production dates and shelf lives, the production date indicated on the outer packaging should be the production date of the earliest produced individual food item, or the date when the outer packaging forms a sales unit; the shelf life indicated on the outer packaging should be calculated based on the shelf life of the earliest expiring individual food item. Alternatively, the production date and shelf life of each individually packaged food item can be indicated separately on the outer packaging.
4. Expired food is not allowed to be sold
According to the Food Safety Law of the Peoples Republic of China, it is prohibited to produce or trade food made from raw materials or additives that have exceeded their shelf life, and it is also prohibited to produce or trade food that has exceeded its shelf life. Otherwise, legal responsibilities will be pursued. Although expired food may not pose a food safety risk, its nutritional value and taste may have changed, making it unsuitable for sale and consumption.
Consumers should carefully read the labels when purchasing pre-packaged food and avoid purchasing food that has exceeded its shelf life. The purchased food should be consumed within its shelf life and stored according to the method indicated on the label.
