In the hot summer, the food you buy is easy to spoil if you don't pay attention to it for a long time. When people buy and store food during the summer months, they pay extra attention to the expiration date. Today we will talk about the shelf life of food. What exactly is the shelf life of food? What else should we pay attention to when looking at the expiration date of food?

Shelf life usually refers to the period of time during which a prepackaged food product retains its quality under the storage conditions specified on the label. During this period, the product is fully merchantable and maintains the characteristic quality that does not need to be stated or has been stated in the label. The shelf life of general food not only involves the single dimension of time, but also involves the storage environment of food, and the shelf life of food should be analyzed in the specific storage state.

Is it true that the shorter the shelf life, the fresher and safer the food?

For a long time, there has been a saying circulating on the Internet: "The shelf life of food is long and short, and the shorter the shelf life, the fresher and safer it is". Is that really the case?

The length of the shelf life is not directly related to the quality of the food, and the time that the food can be stored is closely related to its own properties and production process, in addition to the microbiological, physical and chemical characteristics of the food, as well as the packaging materials and packaging methods, processing environmental conditions, expected consumption methods, logistics conditions and other factors.

Is it true that food additives affect food quality?

For the shelf life of food, there is also a saying that the use of food additives will affect the quality of food, is this true?

The use of food additives is to improve or maintain the nutritional value and flavor of the food itself, and to improve the quality and stability of the food. At the same time, it is also convenient for the production, processing, packaging, transportation and storage of food. The two essential elements of food additives are safety and necessity, and the type and amount within the legal range will not harm the health of consumers.

In short, the food produced by formal food companies is safe within the shelf life, and consumers need to consider more comprehensive factors such as purchase frequency, storage method, and price.