Shelf life

The date of minimum durability ( MHD) is a mandatory marking element specify, according to harmonized EU law or Swiss law on pre-packages. The MHD indicates, is to consume up to the date of foods with proper storage (in particular compliance with those related to the MHD storage temperature) in any case, without significant loss of quality and taste as well as health risk. As this expiry and not a an expiration date, the food is usually still eat, even after the specified date.

Similarly, cosmetic products that are no longer than two and a half year shelf life, under the Cosmetics Directive to be marked with a date of minimum durability.

The determination of the minimum durability date is at the discretion of the manufacturer. So it may be that similar products from different manufacturers have different minimum durability.

The use of existing pesticides is regulated by the Plant Protection Act.

Shelf life and maximum durability

For highly perishable from a microbiological point the food that could pose an immediate threat to human health after a short time (eg, ground beef ), instead of the minimum durability ( " best before " date) the use by date ( to consume "to specify " date):. In everyday parlance, inaccurate before date and use-by date on food are often confused.

After

The consumer must be aware that the food is no longer fully corresponds to its expectations after the minimum durability. Are conceivable:

• Changing the flavor
• Change in Consistency
• Dehydration
• Infested with bacteria with or without poison formation (eg meat )
• Infestation by mold ( with poison Education )
• Decay

In the first case, the consumer can decide whether he wants to devour the -reduced product yet, while rot, may be bacterial or fungal infection risk to health.

The expiration date applies only to a still original sealed package. The opening leads to oxygen, moisture and microorganisms have access to food and cause or accelerate its deterioration.

Terms of Use

Neither the MHD nor of the use by date is derived legally a claim from when the product is no longer inedible before the specified date and the manufacturer can demonstrate the reliability of his information. Products with expired MHD may continue to be sold, unless the seller has satisfied itself that the product is perfect. Accordingly, it infers that no claim for damages of the Customer, if this intention without a product with an expired MHD acquires, provided that the product can still be considered flawless. Products with expired MHD may be basically still processed, the processor may face a higher risk to be sued in case of damage.

Applicable in Austria: " If the minimum durability has expired, that fact must be clearly and in a generally intelligible manner. "

Unlike products with MHD products may no longer be sold after the expiration thereof with use-by date. From a consumption is also not recommended because in particular, consist in food increased health risks.

If there is often at a food means that before the end of the MHD product is no longer capable of devouring, the body responsible for food control authority should be contacted. In general, the manufacturer is then stopped to perform new stability testing and to check the expiry date, if necessary, correct.

Since the MHD or the use by date relating to a particular temperature, the shelf life can be partially extended significantly by storage at lower temperatures. Alone a reduction in the refrigerator temperature of 7 ° C to 5 ° C results in particular dairy products are usually to consume more easily more than a week on the MHD addition.

The expiration date for food is in § 7 LMKV which regulated for cosmetics in § 5 Cosmetics Regulation.

Regulations

• The expiration date is not encrypted with the words " Best before ... ", indicating the day, month and year indicated.
• The indication of day, month and year can also be done elsewhere, if it is pointed in conjunction with the words " Best before ... " on this point ( eg, see bottom / neck / cover etc.)..
• By way of derogation thereof

Products without MHD duty

The indication of the durability date is not required in ( § 7 of the LMKV )

History

The expiration date for food is prescribed in Germany since the introduction of LMKV of 22 December 1981 in Austria in accordance LMKV ( Federal Law Gazette II No. 165 /2008) § 4 on the labeling of packaged goods.