SSI Packaging Group Inkjet Laser Marking Coding and Packaging Supplies
  • Packaging
    • Stretch Wrap
    • Catalog
    • Moving Boxes and Supplies
    • Anti-Static
    • Bubble Wrap and Bubble Products
    • Corrugated Boxes
    • Envelopes and Mailers
    • Fill-Air by Sealed Air
    • Foam
    • Labels
    • Stretch Film
    • Shipping Supplies
    • Tape
    • Acrylic Tape by Shurtape
    • Poly Bags >
      • Ice Bags
  • Marking and Coding
    • Laser Marking & Cutting >
      • 2D Fiber Lasers
      • 3D Fiber Lasers
      • UV Lasers
      • CO2 Lasers
      • Laser Cutting
      • Large Field Lasers
    • Small Character Inkjet >
      • Norwix .uno Small Character
      • Leibinger Small Character Printers >
        • Jet2neo
        • Jet2neoS
        • Jet3up
        • Jet3up PI
        • Jet3up MI
    • Large Character Inkjet >
      • VideoJet Large Character Printers >
        • MARSH Patrion Plus
        • MARSH Unicorn
        • MARSH Unicorn II
      • Matthews Large Character Printers >
        • Matthews MPERIA Controllers
        • Matthews VIAjet V Series Inkjet Marking and Coding
        • Matthews 8000+ Printhead
        • Matthews SX32 Controller
    • High Resolution Inkjet >
      • Norwix High Def Printers >
        • Norwix .core
        • Norwix .total
        • Norwix .uno
      • Squid Ink Hi Resolution Inkjet Printers >
        • Squid Ink CoPilot High Resolution Inkjet Printer
        • Squid Ink CoPilot 128 High Resolution Inkjet Printer
        • Squid Ink CoPilot 256 High Resolution Inkjet Printer
        • Squid Ink CoPilot 500 High Resolution Inkjet Printer
      • Matthews High Def Printers >
        • Matthews VIAjet L-Series
        • Matthews VIAjet T Series
      • Videojet High Def Printers >
        • VideoJet 2300 Series
        • Videojet Marsh 8000
    • Labeling >
      • CTM Labeling Systems >
        • CTM 360a Series Label Applicator
        • CTM 3600PA Print and Apply Label Applicator
        • CTM 1800PA Printer Applicator
      • Videojet 9550 Labeling System
    • Stenciling
    • Building and Construction
  • Moving Supplies
  • Marine
    • Booyah Wash and Wax
    • Booyah Non-Acid Instant Hull Cleaner
    • Booyah Deck Cleaner
    • Booyah Bucket
  • News
  • Online Store

Date Codes on Food

12/10/2014

0 Comments

 
Milk Sell By Date
Expiration Date on Eggs
Expiration Dates on Juice
While visiting family during the holidays I found myself helping someone bake a homemade apple pie.  Everything was going great until she asked me to look in the cabinet for the spices.  After fumbling through all of the half-empty spice containers I found the one she needed, but something caught my attention, the date code on the label.  It seemed that the “sell by” date was over 25 years ago.  Then I realized that many of the other spices had similar dates.  Needless to say, we needed another plan after seeing the date code.

While it’s one thing to use old spices, it’s another story altogether when the sell by date is on produce, dairy, meats, and canned goods.  The FDA started suggesting product dating during the mid 1980’s and 1990’s.  Since then, technology has improved the process during manufacturing as well as for retailers and consumers.  Manufacturer and consumers can now track a product from production to retail stores as well as research the date codes of products, all within a few clicks or taps.  Manufacturers, retailers, and consumers demand effective date coding on almost every product in the kitchen, not to mention the inevitable requirements from the FDA in the near future.

SSI Packaging Group is a leader in providing cost-effective, high-quality coding and labeling hardware, and software for product coding in almost any industry.   We provide the right tools to produce high quality coding on anything from metal, paper, plastic, foil, wood, and more.  Product coding is possible though laser marking and coding, inkjet marking and coding, and labeling applicators.  It takes precision and expertise to ensure effective product coding that provides information to both the manufacture as well as the consumer. 

Examples of Types of Dates on food products include: *
  • A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires.
  • A "Best if Used By (or Before)" date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
  • A "Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product.
  • "Closed or coded dates" are packing numbers for use by the manufacturer.

How safe are products after the “Use by” date expires?

Except for "use-by" dates, product dates don't always pertain to home storage and use after purchase. "Use-by" dates usually refer to best quality and are not safety dates. Even if the date expires during home storage, a product should be safe, wholesome and of good quality if handled properly. See the accompanying refrigerator charts for storage times of dated products. If product has a "use-by" date, follow that date. If product has a "sell-by" date or no date, cook or freeze the product according to the times on the chart below.
Foods can develop an off odor, flavor or appearance due to spoilage bacteria. If a food has developed such characteristics, you should not use it for quality reasons.

If foods are mishandled, however, foodborne bacteria can grow and, if pathogens are present, cause foodborne illness — before or after the date on the package. For example, if hot dogs are taken to a picnic and left out several hours, they will not be safe if used thereafter, even if the date hasn't expired.
Other examples of potential mishandling are products that have been: defrosted at room temperature more than two hours; cross contaminated; or handled by people who don't practice good sanitation. Make sure to follow the handling and preparation instructions on the label to ensure top quality and safety.

What About Dates on Egg Cartons?


Use of either a "Sell-By" or "Expiration" (EXP) date is not federally required, but may be State required, as defined by the egg laws in the State where the eggs are marketed. Some State egg laws do not allow the use of a "sell-by" date.

Many eggs reach stores only a few days after the hen lays them. Egg cartons with the USDA grade shield on them must display the "pack date" (the day that the eggs were washed, graded, and placed in the carton). The number is a three-digit code that represents the consecutive day of the year starting with January 1 as 001 and ending with December 31 as 365. When a "sell-by" date appears on a carton bearing the USDA grade shield, the code date may not exceed 45 days from the date of pack.
Always purchase eggs before the "Sell-By" or "EXP" date on the carton. After the eggs reach home, refrigerate the eggs in their original carton and place them in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not in the door. For best quality, use eggs within 3 to 5 weeks of the date you purchase them. The "sell-by" date will usually expire during that length of time, but the eggs are perfectly safe to use.

Next week we will explore the codes on cans, storage times and offer storage suggestion times for refrigerated products.

To speak with a date code specialist, please call 804.649.1111. or email sales@ssipackaging.com
Contact Us Today
*Source: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/food-product-dating/food-product-dating
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    August 2017
    June 2017
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    September 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All
    Alternative Packaging
    Art
    Boxes
    Bubble Wrap
    Building Products
    Carton Sealing
    CDC
    Cij
    CIJ Printers
    Commercial Coding
    Construction
    Cost Savings
    Covid 19
    Covid-19
    CTM Labeling Systems
    Date Codes
    Date Coding
    DIY
    Eco-friendly
    Ecommerce
    Environmental Packaging
    Etsy
    FDA
    FEDEX
    Foam
    Foam Packaging
    Food And Beverage
    Food Packaging
    Food Service
    Ice Bags
    Inc.jet
    Industrial Inkjet
    Inkjet Labels
    Inkjet Marking
    Inks
    Insulattion
    Kraft Paper
    Label Applicators
    Labeler
    Labels
    Large Character Digital Print
    Laser Coding
    Leibinger
    Loose Fill
    Mail
    Manufacturing
    Marking And Coding
    Matthews Marking
    Moving Boxes
    Non Porous Coding
    Non-Porous Coding
    Packaging
    Packaging Design
    Packaging Supplies
    Padded Mailers
    Pandemic
    Peanuts
    Pharma
    Pigmented Inks
    Poly Bags
    Print And Apply Labeling
    Produce
    Promotions
    Recalls
    Richmond
    Sealed Air
    Service And Support
    Shipping
    Shipping Carriers
    Shipping Room
    Small Business
    Small Character Printing
    Speciality Paper
    Square Store
    Staff
    Startup Business
    Startups
    Strapping
    Supply Chain
    Sustainable Packaging
    Tape
    Thermal Inkjet
    Thermal Labels
    Uno
    UPS
    Vaccine
    Vendors
    Videojet

Picture
​"we help you pack and
track your image
"
®
SSI Packaging Group
​
1514 Brook Road
​Richmond, VA 23220
​p. 804.649.1111
f. 804.788.1218

e. sales@ssipkg.com

RESOURCES

Directions
Documents

Service Request

Contact Us
​Request a Quote
​About Us
Customers


Blogs

Latest News
​
7 Unconventional Things to do with Bubble Wrap
​
Must-Haves for your Etsy, eBay, or Shopify Business
​...
Picture
Website by ShareOne Media
  • Packaging
    • Stretch Wrap
    • Catalog
    • Moving Boxes and Supplies
    • Anti-Static
    • Bubble Wrap and Bubble Products
    • Corrugated Boxes
    • Envelopes and Mailers
    • Fill-Air by Sealed Air
    • Foam
    • Labels
    • Stretch Film
    • Shipping Supplies
    • Tape
    • Acrylic Tape by Shurtape
    • Poly Bags >
      • Ice Bags
  • Marking and Coding
    • Laser Marking & Cutting >
      • 2D Fiber Lasers
      • 3D Fiber Lasers
      • UV Lasers
      • CO2 Lasers
      • Laser Cutting
      • Large Field Lasers
    • Small Character Inkjet >
      • Norwix .uno Small Character
      • Leibinger Small Character Printers >
        • Jet2neo
        • Jet2neoS
        • Jet3up
        • Jet3up PI
        • Jet3up MI
    • Large Character Inkjet >
      • VideoJet Large Character Printers >
        • MARSH Patrion Plus
        • MARSH Unicorn
        • MARSH Unicorn II
      • Matthews Large Character Printers >
        • Matthews MPERIA Controllers
        • Matthews VIAjet V Series Inkjet Marking and Coding
        • Matthews 8000+ Printhead
        • Matthews SX32 Controller
    • High Resolution Inkjet >
      • Norwix High Def Printers >
        • Norwix .core
        • Norwix .total
        • Norwix .uno
      • Squid Ink Hi Resolution Inkjet Printers >
        • Squid Ink CoPilot High Resolution Inkjet Printer
        • Squid Ink CoPilot 128 High Resolution Inkjet Printer
        • Squid Ink CoPilot 256 High Resolution Inkjet Printer
        • Squid Ink CoPilot 500 High Resolution Inkjet Printer
      • Matthews High Def Printers >
        • Matthews VIAjet L-Series
        • Matthews VIAjet T Series
      • Videojet High Def Printers >
        • VideoJet 2300 Series
        • Videojet Marsh 8000
    • Labeling >
      • CTM Labeling Systems >
        • CTM 360a Series Label Applicator
        • CTM 3600PA Print and Apply Label Applicator
        • CTM 1800PA Printer Applicator
      • Videojet 9550 Labeling System
    • Stenciling
    • Building and Construction
  • Moving Supplies
  • Marine
    • Booyah Wash and Wax
    • Booyah Non-Acid Instant Hull Cleaner
    • Booyah Deck Cleaner
    • Booyah Bucket
  • News
  • Online Store