Expiration date of canned food. Labeling on the lid

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Canned products are quite popular among buyers due to long-term storage. However, it is important to keep in mind that each type of food and packaging has its own unique ways of preserving. Further, the material will consider the conditions and terms of storage of canned food in various containers and with different contents.

First of all, it is worth considering separately the allowable duration of storage of various canned foods.

Shelf life of vegetable products

One of the most popular types. Most often, such canned food is stored in glass jars. Metal containers are used somewhat less often. A feature of the second type of container is a layer of varnish or enamel, which is applied by the manufacturer to the inner walls of the vessel. This is due to the organic acids found in vegetables. Storage duration depends on:

• product processing method;
• variety of what is contained in the container;
• of the type of container (glass or can).

Based on the above data, we can distinguish several different time periods during which products are stored:

• if polymer storage or containers made of combined film material are used, then vegetable products can be stored for no more than six months;
• if sterilized vegetables are stored in glass containers, the storage period will not exceed two years;
• if a can or metal container is used, then such a product will be stored for no more than twelve months;
• unsterilized vegetables in glass containers will keep usable for one year;
• if an aluminum container is used, the shelf life will be reduced to six months;

It is also worth talking about individual products. For example, sweet corn in a metal can with an enamel coating on the inside will be usable for four years. Without it - no more than two. If a glass container is used for corn, then the suitability for consumption is maintained for three years. Another example is industrial mushrooms. In any container, the shelf life of canned food will not exceed two years.

Fruit and berry products

Here, all storage dates almost completely coincide with those indicated above. That is:

• sterilized product in a glass container is stored for two years, and in a metal one - one;
• unsterilized in glass - a year, and in the rest -no more than half a year;
• polymer and combined film materials will keep the product usable for six months;
• as exceptions are compotes from such crops as cherry, apricot, cherry plum and others. Due to the fact that the bones contain substances that, when decomposed, form the strongest poison, the latter are removed from the fetus, and the shelf life is twelve months, regardless of the container.

Shelf life of canned fish

It is worth noting that such dishes are not much inferior in terms of usefulness and nutritional value to fresh fish, which to some extent allows you to save on purchases. However, it's not about benefits. Thus, the shelf life of canned food such as sardines in oil, regardless of the container in which they are stored, will not exceed two years.

The point here is the changes that the content undergoes. It is known that many canned fish are packed with bones. Due to processing, they gradually soften, as a result of which they practically do not differ in softness from the meat itself. However, after a few months, the fish product begins to age.

Don't forget about the caviar in the bank. If it is grainy and without preservatives, then the shelf life lasts for three months. And that is not always the case. It is advisable not to let the caviar lie for more than two months. The product with preservatives will be usable for five months. If the caviar is pasteurized and without preservatives, then such canned food can be stored up to a year.

Stewed meat and meatcanned food

This type of product belongs to long-term canned food. Subject to all standards (which will be discussed later), products can lie for up to five years. But nevertheless, it is worth analyzing specific cases in more detail:

• if canned meats were packaged in tins and sealed, they will be usable for five years after packaging;
• if alternative material is used, but also with a welded seam, the shelf life will not exceed four years, which is almost the same as the previous indicators;
• canned meat is stored in glass jars for no more than three years.

Next, it is worth considering the conditions on which the shelf life of canned food depends.

How to store closed cans

The most basic conditions are the temperature, which should not be higher than eight degrees above zero, and the humidity of the air - no more than 75%. Canned food in glassware should be kept in a dark place, avoiding direct sunlight. Now more about the main secrets that allow you to keep closed canned food longer:

• The best place to find unopened canned food is in a pantry or basement with good ventilation.
• To extend the shelf life of canned food, it is worth treating the container with anti-corrosion grease. But don't forget to remove it before you open the jar.
• Standing on the same shelf, jars of canned food should beat some distance from each other. It is best to cover them with cardboard partitions or simply hide them in boxes made of the same material.
• When buying canned products, check the storage conditions offered by the manufacturer. Most often, all the necessary information about the temperature at which it is allowed to keep closed canned food is indicated on the wrapper.
• Never freeze canned food. After a sharp change in ambient temperature, the container will simply burst. In this case, glass jars can "slam" so hard that the fragments will scatter around the room.

How to store open canned food

Here you should be more careful. Since the shelf life of canned food after opening is much shorter, the chance of getting food poisoning becomes higher. Here are some helpful tips to help you avoid danger:

• Immediately after the container with the products has been opened, they should be transferred to a container with good tightness. The best materials are glass, ceramics or food grade plastic. These dishes should be stored in a refrigerator at a temperature not exceeding five degrees above zero.
• If you purchased juice not in packages, but in jars, then its shelf life is reduced to a day after opening. It is also recommended to immediately install a nylon lid on the dishes.
• Products such as mushrooms, peas and corn should be kept open for no more than two days. However, they must be in brine.
• If you still have an open can of stew, then store itneeded in the refrigerator. At the same time, the period of its stay there should not exceed a day. Before consuming these canned food, make sure that there are no signs of spoilage and boil the contents to stop the development of harmful bacteria.
• The same rule applies to canned fish. After you open canned food, their shelf life is reduced to a day. And keep them in the refrigerator.
• If you open canned vegetables (peas or corn) and don't have time to eat them, then drain all the juice and put the jar in the freezer.

Now it's worth considering one of the most important points regarding these products - the labeling on the lid of canned food.

What do the numbers on the lid or bottom mean?

Standard numbers are a set of symbols that are applied in two or three rows. For example, this option:

01.01.10

1 01B

A 15

• the first line indicates the date of manufacture: standard day, month and year;
• next - shift number, which consists of one digit;
• product assortment number;
• followed by the index of the system of the enterprise that manufactures this product;
• and the last digits indicate the manufacturer's number.

Now it's worth taking a closer look at the principles of labeling on various types of canned food.

Marking on fish products

In this case, two options for marking information on the cover are considered: with domestic marking equipment and imported. In the first case, the signature is presented as follows: in the first row, the date of production, the month when the product was produced, and the year of production are indicated in numbers.

In the second row - the assortment index and the number of the organization that manufactures products.

In the case of imported equipment: in the first row, the industry "P" is indicated first - that is, the fishing industry, then the date of production, month and year.

In the second row: shift number (if there is more than one), assortment index (one to three digits and a letter) and one or two digits of the enterprise index.

How are canned milk products labelled?

As a rule, in the case of canned dairy products, the marking is indicated on the bottom of the container. First of all, five to eight characters plus the date of manufacture are indicated there. The first characters indicate:

• belonging to the dairy industry - "M";
• one or two digits as the index of the manufacturer, as well as the one responsible for preserving this product;
• product range index. Most often, one to three numbers and / or letters are indicated;
• shift serial number, if there was more than one shift. It is indicated by one digit.

Labeling of canned vegetables and fruits

This type of canned product is usually labeled with three lines. Thus, the first row indicates:

• assortment index of a specific product, consisting of three digits;
• one or two digits indicating the number of the shift or brigade.

In the second row you can learn:

• production day;
• month;
• year.

Third row marks:

• index of the industry to which the manufacturer belongs. In a specific case, it will be either "K" or "KS";
• index of the company that manufactures this product.

There are also cases of container lithography. Then you can see:

• two digits of shift or crew number;
• production day;
• month;
• year.

What should I look for when buying canned food?

The following are a couple of simple tips to help you choose foods that won't harm your body. Among them:

• carefully check the jar for integrity and swelling;
• shake and listen. If you hear a gurgling sound, there is a lot of water inside;
• check the composition for foreign and suspicious products;
• read the label;
• check the manufacturer.