9 replies to this topic

[TimG]

Sales has been trying to woo a customer for a few months now, and while they didn't get the business out of them they wanted, they are getting a very small portion of it. It is moving into finalization phase, and their buyer hits us with 'we don't want any best by dates on the bottle.' My knee jerk reaction was, 'tough crap we put BB dates on them because I already get random complaints from people right at the end of the 2 year best by, I'm not going to be on the hook forever.'

They came back with it being their policy not to put BB dates on product, and it might be a deal breaker.'

 

Do any of you manufacture product and NOT put a best by, best if used by, etc. on the container? Are there any other issues I need to consider?

It's honey, so technically...

[kfromNE]

You're right. Honey technically doesn't have an expiration date. You could put a manufacturing date on it. Then cite traceability and customer complaints for the reason. 

[MDaleDDF]

We have a few things with bb dates, but most of our stuff just has julian and batch, so something today would be lot coded 09042025B1 for batch one.   Our stuff is all back of the house, so....
 

However, CA AB 660 is coming soon, so we're going to add bb dates to all the biggies.

[TimG]

Huh, are you SQF certified? How would you get past:

2.4.4.5 Retention samples, if required by customers or regulations, shall be stored according to the typical storage conditions for the product and maintained for the stated shelf-life of the product.

Just keep the retention samples forever? Maybe have a statement from the customer that says they only require retention samples to kept for 2 years?

[TimG]

So CA AB 660. If I'm reading this correctly, food products will have to have a manufactured date AND a quality type date? Is it only 'prepared foods'?

 

The bill would authorize a grocery store, on and after July 1, 2026, to display a label with the phrase “packed on” on a prepared food item and to sell or offer for sale in the state the prepared food item with that label, if the prepared food item also displays a quality or safety date label in accordance with the above-described requirement.

[kconf]

We don't put for bulk, but for retail - yes. We are like what Mdale is. 

[MDaleDDF]

So CA AB 660. If I'm reading this correctly, food products will have to have a manufactured date AND a quality type date? Is it only 'prepared foods'?

 

The bill would authorize a grocery store, on and after July 1, 2026, to display a label with the phrase “packed on” on a prepared food item and to sell or offer for sale in the state the prepared food item with that label, if the prepared food item also displays a quality or safety date label in accordance with the above-described requirement.

I believe it's all packaged foods other than:

 

"Infant formula, Eggs (and pasteurized in-shell eggs), Beer (and other malt beverages), Wine and distilled spirits (which have their own labeling rules)"

 

I don't think a manufacturing date is required, but we're going to print both on since that's our lot coding, just to make life easier.

Still going through this though, so I could find I'm wrong as I read more....

[SQFconsultant]

For our new Honey packed in a glass jar we will be using a "Packed On" date.

 

Recently spoke with a Maple harvester and processor in Vermont and he said they are putting a Packed On date as well.

[TimG]

For our new Honey packed in a glass jar we will be using a "Packed On" date.

 

Recently spoke with a Maple harvester and processor in Vermont and he said they are putting a Packed On date as well.

 Maybe this is just an emerging trend, and we need to get on board..

Does the lack of BB imply an indefinite shelf life, or do you work shelf life into purchasing agreements with the storefronts? Concerned with SQF code 2.4.4.5.

[Shrimper]

 Maybe this is just an emerging trend, and we need to get on board..

Does the lack of BB imply an indefinite shelf life, or do you work shelf life into purchasing agreements with the storefronts? Concerned with SQF code 2.4.4.5.

 

We include best by dates/ranges in our specifications. A production date is put on the label, and the customer knows it is good for 18 months or 24 months based off the specification. 

 

Some labels just have a best by date and we know the production date because it is 18/24 months prior. Then again, some have both...