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Product Expiration Dates, Lot Codes and Shelf Life

Shelf Life

The length of time during which a product maintains labeled potency. It is different from expiration dates. Shelf life relates to food quality; expiration date relates to food safety.

  • A product that has passed its shelf life might still be safe, but quality is no longer guaranteed.
  • A product’s shelf life may change depending on whether it is opened or unopened.
Lot code Provides the date of manufacture and batch. Some lot codes will include a Julian Date which will provide the date the product was made.
Manufacture date (mfg)

Date product was made. Manufacturing dates may be written:

  • Month-year (MM/YYYY)
  • Month-day-year (MM/DD/YYYY)
  • Day-month-year (DD/MM/YYYY)
  • Year-month-day (YYYY/MM/DD)
Expiration date (exp)

Date product is no longer guaranteed to be at peak quality, effectiveness or safety. Expiration dates may be written:

  • Month-year (MM/YYYY)
  • Month-day-year (MM/DD/YYYY)
  • Day-month-year (DD/MM/YYYY)
  • Year-month-day (YYYY/MM/DD)
Best By date Sometimes indicated on food and drink wrappers, followed by a date and is intended to indicate the date before which the supplier intended the food should be consumed. Indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

If you are not sure if the date shown is the expiration or manufacturing date, use the lot code and the explanations below to confirm.

  • Formats for dates vary as our products are made by a multitude of contractors for a multitude of markets
  • Product may have just one, just two or all of these: lot code, expiration date, manufacturing date, best by date
  • Regulatory and/or market requirements drive which products have lot codes only and which products have both lot codes and expiration/manufacturing/best by dates

Where to find a Lot Code, Manufacture, Best By and Expiration Dates:

Product that comes in a box

The lot code is either located on the bottom of the box or near the bottom of the back side of the box as well as on the product.
 

Exceptions:

  • Lipstick lot code is only on the box and not on the product
  • iCook™ cookware has a lot code on large stickers on the box and not on the product; knives have a lot code on the bottom of the box and not on the product.
Bottles, jars, cans

The lot code is printed on the bottom.

Exceptions:

  • Glister™ Multi-Action Concentrated Oral Rinse and Perfect Water, which are on the shoulder (top rounded part of the product, below the cap)
  • Artistry Future Glow™ Foundation, which is located at the bottom of the side of the bottle
Tubes The lot code is embossed on the crimp.
Pouches The lot code is located on the very bottom or back side of the pouch.
Food bars The lot code is located on the bottom of the box and on the inside of the long, central seal.

 Close to expiration/best by date:

Products are meant to be consumed within a certain amount of time and are shipped allowing adequate time to consume. Shipped products can still be consumed 45 days from date of expiration.

If you do not wish to consume the product, and it’s within 180 days of the purchase date, please follow instructions on how to return an order as a guest, customer, or an IBO.