Among the thousands of tests Symbio Laboratories performs each week, Shelf Life Testing is one of the most requested and commonly performed. However, there are a number of important factors that need to be taken into consideration when submitting samples for Shelf life Testing.
What is Shelf Life?
Shelf life refers to the time frame where food products remain acceptable for human consumption or for retail display.
Food cannot be kept forever. After a certain amount of time it will deteriorate and at this time will no longer be safe to eat. This is known as shelf life. It also applies to drugs, drinks and other things that can go “off”.
Depending on region and country, a best before, use by or freshness date is required on packaged perishable foods. A product that has passed its shelf life might still be safe, but quality may no longer be guaranteed.
Before you Submit
When submitting shelf life samples, it is important that you:
- Contact your account manager or our Customer Service team so they can guide you through the recommended sample submission process. We can provide you with a quote and paperwork for submission along with your sample.
- Understand that our professional laboratory standards prevent us from providing comments on reports in relation to recommended shelf life times. This may be different to your experience with other laboratories, but we proudly stand by our tight standards.
- If you have any questions once you receive your results, please feel free to contact our Customer Service Team. Our highly qualified team is happy to provide broad advice and point you in the right direction on how to interpret your shelf life results into meaningful results.
Over 5,900 companies trust Symbio Laboratories to provide the results they need to manage their food quality and safety. Celebrating our 20th anniversary in August, Symbio Laboratories boasts one of the broadest NATA scopes of any laboratory in Australia, experts at every level of the organisation, and the testing and analysis you need to get your product safely into the market.
