As long as food safety is not in question and a product
meets all of the nutritional
claims printed on its label,
companies are free to determine the shelf life of their
shelf-stable or frozen products. Food companies vary
greatly in their shelf life
philosophies; some companies
are very conservative and choose to end shelf life when
there is a perceivable difference between aged product
and fresh product. Other companies accept more
sensory variability within their stated shelf life.
Companies need to decide what degree of product
change they are comfortable with being associated with
their brand.
Once a company has decided how
much product change it is willin
g to accept, data from well
designed shelf life studies can help to determine ‘b
est by’ dates. This can help reduce consumer
complaints, keep product quality within a range th
e company is comfortable with, and ultimately
maximize protection of the brand.