Food shelf life is an important factor to determine food safety, one of the most intuitive judgment based on food safety sales period and is an important indicator for consumers to buy food. On July 16, 2020, CCTV 315 party exposed that Burger King changed the shelf life of the expired bread to continue selling. "Food shelf life" once again become a hot spot of public. So how do governments manage the "food shelf life" in China and foreign country? Foodmate has compiled the "Guidelines for Food Shelf Life", which is divided into several parts: the definition of "Food Shelf Life", how to mark "Food Shelf Life", management of food about to expire and expired food.

Definition of "Food Shelf Life"-Part 1

1. Mainland China

"Food Safety Law", GB 7718-2011 "National Food Safety Standard, General Rules for Pre-Packaged Food Labels" in China clearly define the "Food Shelf Life". "Food Shelf Life" refers to the period of time for prepackaged food to maintain quality under the storage conditions specified on the label. During this period, the product is fully suitable for sale and maintains the unique quality that is not required or has been described in the label. The implementation guideline of GB 7718-2011 further explains: the shelf life of prepackaged food is the period for maintaining the quality of the food, to be precise, it is the best shelf life, which is determined by the producer after scientific verification and provided to consumers through labeling. In addition, the association standard T/CNFIA 001-2017 "General Guidelines for Food Shelf Life" also stipulates that "food shelf life" refers to the period during which food maintains its quality under predetermined storage environment parameters such as temperature, humidity, and light.

In general, the determination of the shelf life of food has the following principles: First, the shelf life of the food should be limited to specific storage conditions, and only have reference significance under the established storage environment such as temperature, humidity, and light; second, the food must maintain food quality during the shelf life , If the food cannot maintain the food's unique flavor, color, smell and other qualities under the established storage conditions, it cannot be considered as the product    still within the shelf life.

2. Taiwan, China

The definitions of "shelf life" and " validity date " in the "Guidelines for the evaluation of Validity date of Commercially Packaged Foods" are as follows:

Shelf life: under certain storage conditions, the period during which the value of the commercially available packaged food can maintain the product value. It is the time range, such as "shelf life: two years".

Validity date: Under certain storage conditions, the final period during which commercially available packaged foods can maintain the value of the product and should be a date, such as "validity date: 27 July, 2020".

3. Hong Kong, China

According to the website of the Hong Kong Center for Food Safety [https://www.cfs.gov.hk/en_chi/multimedia/multimedia_pub/multimedia_pub_fsf_101_02.html], “best before” date is a food quality label (such as taste, texture, aroma and Appearance, etc.). This date means that if the food is properly stored, it can be reasonably expected that the food will preserve its characteristics on and before the date. Generally speaking, this date applies to foods that do not contain and/or are not conducive to the growth of food poisoning bacteria (such as canned food and refrigerated food), and must be cooked or processed before consumption to reduce or eliminate food poisoning bacteria Food (such as fresh meat). In addition, the "best before" date is also applicable to some foods (such as square packets) that have obvious signs of deterioration (such as moldy, smelly or spoiled) before they pose a food safety threat.

"Eat before" Date is a food safety label, which is applicable to foods that are extremely perishable from a microbiological point of view, and may pose immediate risks to human health after a short period of time. For example, some refrigerated ready-to-eat foods that may contain and are conducive to the growth of food poisoning bacteria to dangerous levels before the signs of deterioration must be marked with a "Eat before" date.

4. Macau, China

The "Conditions for the Labeling of Cooked Food Products Supplied to Consumers" stipulates that prepackaged foods should clearly indicate the basic shelf life in one of the following ways:

a) If it is perishable food, use "eat before date”.

b) If the date specifies the month and day of the food, use "best before date”.

c) In other cases, use "best before date".

5. Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

“The International Codex Alimentarius General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods” (CODEX STAN l-1985, revised in 2010) stipulates that “Best Before Date” or “Best Quality Before Date” shall be used for the deadline of unopened products under the indicated storage conditions. During this period, the product is fully suitable for sale and maintains the unique quality that is not required or has been stated on the label, but the food can still be eaten after this date.

"Use-by Date" or "Expiration Date" means that the product is no longer suitable for sale or consumption after this date due to safety and quality reasons under the stated storage conditions.

Today, we mainly introduce the definition of food shelf life of different areas in China and the relevant regulations of CAC. Tomorrow, Foodmate will continue talking about the regulations of food shelf life in foreign countries.

Please note: Original English article of Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate, please indicate the source from the Global Foodmate if reprint.

Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry. 

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