What is the Shelf - Life
The words "shelf" and "life" literally mean "shelf or shelf" and "life".
In commodities, shelf-life takes on the meaning of:
"Period that lasts from production to sale, in which it is necessary to keep the total quality of the product intact".
The shelf-life therefore corresponds to the "life of the" food "before purchase.
Below we will mainly talk about shelf-life in the food context.
ATTENTION! Shelf-life is not synonymous with: "expiration date", "to be consumed preferably by" and "freshness date", even if they are all related parameters. Shelf-life is not even synonymous with “service life” which, as we will see shortly, corresponds to the duration of the product from the beginning of use; it applies above all to objects, while for food it is preferable to use the words “conservation or shelf life”.
Beyond the shelf-life time, the product is considered unsuitable for sale and consumption.
The shelf-life determines:
- The maximum term of sale.
- The period within which the food is defined as risk-free for the health of the consumer.
Temperature Control
Temperature is a very important factor for shelf-life, both as regards chemical processes and the proliferation of microorganisms.
