Code Free Cast 'date

May
13
2008

Valid until when?

By Ricardo Macari at 13:05:08

It is public that Brazilians do not read manual, the more ingredients of the products it consumes. But tradition does not always look at the expiration date of purchase or if it can be dangerous and consumes at least have a "strange taste".

The trick is not to know the expiration date of each product, but how long that box of juice can be open in the fridge, or if that chocolate egg you've won two Passovers there can still be a treat for your mouth.

Did you know that the shelf life of foods must be printed on product packaging in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Health and the Health Surveillance Secretariat (which oversees the industry)? This period is defined by a time estimate, verified by tests called "shelf life", prepared by the manufacturer with a large number of samples of each raw material. Only unprocessed vegetables are exempted from submission period for such mandatory information, but there still exists the need to display the date on which the vegetable, fruit or vegetable were packed.

I did some research on some packages of products I found and I can say that is not an easy task to find the expiration dates and especially the correct time of consumption. I compiled a short list of very interesting items of common use and everyday, with their validity and maximum time for consumption. Check and see if that open mayo in your fridge can still be part of your afternoon snack.

Note: Remember that this list is merely illustrative, and you should always look on the packaging of the product information on the validity of it.

Food:

Beer: Not open: 4 months.

Brown sugar: Long life, if stored in dry and indoors.

Chocolate (in bar): One year from date of manufacture.

Instant coffee: Unopened: Up to 2 years - Open: Up to one month.

Diet soda (and others in plastic bottles) Unopened: 3 months. Open: Do not spoil, but taste changes.

Frozen dinner: Unopened: 12 to 18 months.

Frozen vegetables: Unopened: 18 to 24 months - Open: 1 month.

Mel: Long Life

Juice Bottle: Unopened: 8 months from the date of manufacture - Open: 7 to 10 days.

Ketchup: Unopened: 1 year, after this period the color and flavor changes.

Maraschino Cherry: Unopened: 3 to 4 years. Open: 2 weeks at room temperature; 6 months in refrigerator.

Marshmallows: Unopened: 40 weeks. Open: 3 months.

Mayonnaise: Unopened: Indefinite. Open: 2 to 3 months from the date of purchase.

Mustard: 2 years after this period the color and flavor changes.

Olive Oil: 2 years from the date of manufacture, after this period the color and flavor changes.

Peanuts: Unopened: 1 to 2 years. Open: 1 to 2 weeks if you are in a closed container.

Pickles: Unopened: 18 months. Open: 1 month, or less if there are visible change in the product.

Cereal bar: Unopened: 10 to 12 months, varying according to the manufacturer. See expiration date on the product.

White rice: 2 years from the date of purchase.

Soft drinks: Unopened: In cans or glass bottles, 9 months from the date of manufacture. Open: Do not spoil, but taste and color changes.

Tea bags: Use within 2 years from date of purchase of the package.

Soy Sauce (Shoyo): Unopened: 2 years. Open: 3 months.

Vinegar: 42 months

Wine (red or white) Unopened: 3 years from the date of harvest, 20 to 100 years for fine wines. Open: 1 week, and is closed with a stopper in the refrigerator.