Shelf Life Dating Of Foods

Abstract: Open shelf-life dating means the use of comprehensible terms such as day, month, and year as an indication of when food was packaged or by when it should beused or sold. A survey revealed that 96 percent of consumers were concerned about food freshness; however, their awareness and comprehension of open dates varied considerably. The benefits of open dating concern food quality, nutrition, food safety, inventory, and education. The types of open dates are: date of pack or manufacture, pull date or sell-by date, best-if-used-by date, expiration or use-by date, or combination of the first four. Food shelf-life is dependent on time and environmental factors. The three alternative open dating systems are: voluntary, mandatory, and voluntary/mandatory. Enforcement and liability would depend on the system used, but Federal and state inspection systems would routinely survey the market. Various congressional options for open dating as well as technical information and the status of open dating in foreign countries are discussed.

Open dating plays a vital role in the distribution of the food products from the farm or place of manufacturing to the consumer's home. One principle is that the shelf life is a function of the distribution conditions and can be looked at as the percentage of consumers a manufacturer is willing to displease. Thus, one purpose of an open date is to give consumers enough time to purchase a food product and store it at home for a reasonable period of time before the product reaches the end of shelf-life in terms of some degree of quality change that is still acceptable. If products are not stored or rotated properly in distribution, then older products or those of lesser quality and perhaps compromised safety because of abuse during distribution chain and causing loss of confidence in the food category. Presently, the lack of uniformity among manufacturers and across state borders has made the practice of open dating confusing and misleading for consumers, retailers and the government. This book addresses these issues, and provides scientific and legal background to both evaluate and influence federally-regulated open-dating legislation in this country

Determining accurate shelf life data for foods is essential for assuring food quality and protecting consumers from the effects of degradation. With a proper balance of theory and practical examples, Shelf Life Assessment of Food presents the essential criteria and current methodologies for obtaining accurate and reliable shelf life dating. Definin

The best-selling first edition of this contributed book established itself as a highly practical and authoritative source of information on shelf-life evaluation. Every food manufacturer is concerned about shelf life, as are the major retailers and ingredient suppliers. Increasing consumer interest in food safety, quality and date marking, competitive pressures from retailers and extensive legislative changes have combined to give this subject new significance. A proper evaluation of shelf life must be grounded on sound scientific prinicles, supported by up-to-date techniques. This book begins with six chapters reviewing the principles of shelf-life evaluation, followed by ten chapters on a number of selected food products such as chilled yogurt and other dairy desserts, seafood, and meat. The latest edition has been expanded to include new chapters on HACCP, preservation technology and shelf life, and minimally processed, ready-to-eat ambient-stable meat products. Sufficient information on the principles and practice of shelf life evaluation has been included for the beginner as well as for those who are more experienced in this area.

Determining accurate shelf life data for foods is essential for assuring food quality and protecting consumers from the effects of degradation. With a proper balance of theory and practical examples, Shelf Life Assessment of Food presents the essential criteria and current methodologies for obtaining accurate and reliable shelf life dating. Defining the process through a series of sequential steps, the book assists and supports researchers and food industry operators in planning a shelf life study that best suits their needs. Offering an integrated view of the present status of shelf life assessment, the book covers: Definitions, basic concepts, and regulatory aspects of food shelf life The shelf life assessment process, including preliminary steps, testing, modeling, and monitoring Methods for determining acceptability limits Critical indicators in shelf life assessment Real-time and accelerated shelf life testing Microbial indicators for shelf life prediction and determination Survival analysis methodologies and their role in modeling shelf life The effect of packaging materials properties in food shelf life assessment The book concludes with a series of case studies involving fresh-cut apple slices, fruit juices, frozen pasta, cheese breadsticks, coffee, frozen shrimp, and fruit-based noncarbonated soft drinks. Each case study begins with a brief presentation of the product and the problem most relevant to the product’s shelf life. The studies first define acceptability limits and identify the indicators of quality loss. Next, the book examines expiration time assessment by instrumental or sensory tools. Providing researchers and food industry operators with up-to-date data and procedures, this volume surveys the most critical factors and methods for obtaining accurate and reliable shelf life dating.

This book addresses the shelf life of foods, a key factor in determining how food is distributed and consequently where and when different food products are available for consumption. Shelf life is determined by several factors, including microbiological, chemical, physical, and organoleptic deterioration. Often these factors are interrelated and interdependent. The editors of this volume focus specifically on the microbial factors related to shelf life of perishable foods and food commodities. This allows for more detailed coverage of foodborne bacterial pathogens and spoilage microorganisms of concern. The initial part of the book covers the why and how of shelf life determination as well as the specific microbial pathogens and spoilage microorganisms of concern for perishable foods. Contributors address topics such as the techniques utilized for determination of shelf life, the frequency of shelf life testing for different products, the interpretation of data to make shelf life determinations, and management of shelf life of food products from the perspective of the food producer, distributor, retailer, and regulator. Three key areas impacting shelf life are addressed in detail: sanitation, processing, and packaging. The sanitation chapter explains the necessary components of cleaning and sanitizing to assure a hygienic processing environment and why that is critical to shelf life control. Traditional processing procedures are reviewed and advanced processing technologies are explored. Materials used in food packaging and the utilization of traditional and activated food packaging by product type are covered in detail. The latter two chapters of the book delve into newer techniques of analysis and explore the microbiome of food products. Implications of microbial ecology and microbial quantification in food products are discussed in chapters on genomics and in the changing dogma of meat shelf life. The primary audience for this work includes food industry quality and food safety technicians, managers, directors, and executives responsible for shelf life. Academicians and governmental researchers involved in research and teaching about food safety and quality will also find the material relevant and useful.

Abstract: Open shelf-life dating means the use of comprehensible terms such as day, month, and year as an indication of when food was packaged or by when it should beused or sold. A survey revealed that 96 percent of consumers were concerned about food freshness; however, their awareness and comprehension of open dates varied considerably. The benefits of open dating concern food quality, nutrition, food safety, inventory, and education. The types of open dates are: date of pack or manufacture, pull date or sell-by date, best-if-used-by date, expiration or use-by date, or combination of the first four. Food shelf-life is dependent on time and environmental factors. The three alternative open dating systems are: voluntary, mandatory, and voluntary/mandatory. Enforcement and liability would depend on the system used, but Federal and state inspection systems would routinely survey the market. Various congressional options for open dating as well as technical information and the status of open dating in foreign countries are discussed.