Is the Expiration Date of Food Important?

Although the expiration date of food is given the necessary importance, it can sometimes be overlooked. However, the expiration date is of great importance.

What is an expiration date?

The expiration date is the date that indicates the shelf life of the food. In other words, it marks the period from the date the food was produced until the date it will spoil. Additionally, factors such as temperature, light, and oxygen are taken into account as they can cause changes in this date. Food can spoil for many different reasons. Regardless of the cause, the condition of the food should be kept under control using preservation methods. These methods include cooling or freezing. Thanks to these methods, food can remain in good condition for a long time. In any case, this date is very important. This is especially true for perishable foods such as dairy products and meat, as they can pose a threat to your health. You may not know it, but it is a legal requirement to put an expiration date or "best before date" on food. The expiration date is not used in the same way for every food item. In fact, it can be used in several different ways:

• Foods that should not be stored for more than 3 months must have a "best before date" or "expiration date" indicating the day and month.
• If the food can be stored for more than 3 months, the year must also be specified alongside the month.
• If the food can be stored for more than 18 months, the year must be added to the expiration date.

Abant Makine has been contributing to human health in Turkey and around the world since 1974 with the devices it produces by closely following technology for the coding of food products.