The Importance of Shelf-Life Testing in Food Products

Consumers expect food products to be safe, nutritious and of high quality. Shelf-life testing involves a series of microbiological, chemical and sensory tests that determine the point at which a food product is no longer safe for consumption and/or when its quality, nutritional value and sensory attributes decline. Conducting a shelf-life study helps establish the expiration date or “best by” date for a product, indicating when it may no longer meet consumer expectations. This helps manufacturers maintain consistent product quality throughout storage and distribution. While by regulation, FDA does not require a “best by” date for most food products, many retailers require shelf-life studies to ensure consumer expectations and avoid selling expired products.

Factors Influencing Shelf-Life

Over the shelf life of a product from production to consumption, certain changes may occur that can affect nutritional value, and several factors can impact the shelf life of a food product. These factors include:

1. Moisture: The presence of moisture can promote microbial growth and accelerate spoilage, reducing the shelf life of a product.
2. Temperature: Higher temperatures can speed up chemical reactions and microbial growth, leading to faster deterioration of the product.
3. Oxygen: Exposure to oxygen can cause oxidation, leading to changes in flavor, color and nutrient degradation.
4. Light: Exposure to light, especially ultraviolet (UV) light, can cause photochemical reactions that degrade the quality and nutritional value of the product.
5. Time: The longer a product is stored, the more likely it is to experience quality degradation and nutrient loss.
6. Product Formulation: The ingredients and formulation of a product can influence its stability and susceptibility to spoilage.
7. Processing Method: The processing method used, such as heat treatment or packaging techniques, can impact the shelf life of a product.
8. Packaging Efficacy: Ability of packaging to protect the products against the above-mentioned factors.

By considering the factors that influence shelf life and conducting comprehensive testing, manufacturers and retailers can provide consumers with safe, nutritious and high-quality food products. Ultimately, shelf-life testing plays a crucial role in maintaining consumer satisfaction, regulatory compliance and brand reputation in the competitive food market.

Fast-Tracking Product Launches

Accelerated studies may be used to quickly launch new products by storing them at higher temperatures and humidity levels, revealing potential sensory and chemical issues sooner. This data can estimate shelf life under normal conditions, but a real-time study is necessary to validate results from the accelerated study. They are not recommended for microbiological testing, unless paired with a validated study, due to potential alterations in microorganism growth.

Customized Solutions or Your Project

Our experts can customize the study to meet your specific project requirements, whether you need a real-time or accelerated study. We have a range of controlled environments and analyses available to address the needs of your product. By partnering with us, you can obtain reliable data about your product’s key quality attributes throughout its intended storage period.