The expiration date (EXP) is of great importance, especially for food products. In fact, it is directly related to human health. It is determined during the production phase by experts, taking relevant legislation into account, and is written on an appropriate part of the product. In this way, consumers are informed about this.
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What is the Expiration Date (EXP)? What is its purpose?
The expiration date is the date by which a product must be consumed or used. It is also known as the best before date (BBD).
If the product is food, it means it can be consumed until the stated expiration date. Consuming it after the expiration date indicates that it would be harmful or risky for human health.
This date indicates the last period during which products can be used without spoiling, becoming harmful to health, or facing any problems. This prevents consumers from using or consuming spoiled and risky products.
The Importance of Expiration Dates in Food and Pharmaceutical Products
Expiration dates (SKT) are a practice used across various product groups. However, the most important product group in this area is undoubtedly food. This is because foods have a limited shelf life, and after this period, the risk of spoilage is very high. Consuming spoiled products poses a serious threat to human health. Therefore, checking the expiration date of the food we consume is of paramount importance in preventing this threat.
The expiration date varies depending on the product and type of food it is made from. The duration may differ for each product. Consumers should always check the expiration date of the products they take from their kitchen shelves. For food and other products, this date is determined by experts and relevant legislation.
information regarding expiration dates on food products in this PDF.
What is the difference between Expiration Date (SKT) and Best Before Date (TETT)?
The expiration date (EXP) and the best before date (BBD) are different concepts. Although many consumers think these terms mean the same thing, they should not be confused. BBD is a recommendation for when a product can be consumed if stored under appropriate conditions. Even after that date, the product can still be consumed after checking it. The expiration date, on the other hand, indicates the last date the product can be used/consumed. After this date, the product should absolutely not be used.
| Abbreviation | Definition | Consumption |
| Tett | Recommended consumption date | After this date, you can consume the product after checking condition. |
| STT / SKT |
End consumption date Expiration date |
after this date not be consumed . |
According to the definition in the Official Gazette; ARTICLE 24 – (1) Foods that are easily perishable from a microbiological point of view and therefore likely to pose a danger to human health after a short time shall be marked with a 'best before date', and other foods shall be marked with a 'recommended consumption date'. Foods that have passed their 'best before date' are considered unsafe food according to subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) and (ç) of the first paragraph of Article 21 of Law No. 5996. (source: resmigazete.gov.tr)
How to Read an Expiration Date?
The expiry date (SKT) is written and pronounced differently in each language. In Turkish, the format is day/month/year. First the day, then the month, and then the year. For example, 25/08/2021 corresponds to August 25, 2021.
In some languages, the format might be month/day/year. Therefore, it's important to remember that there is no international standard for this, and the expiration date on products should be checked accordingly.
How to Write the Expiration Date?
Expiration dates (SKT) are coded injector coding machines . Industrial coding machines serially print the relevant information onto product packaging. During this process, care is taken to ensure that the information is easily noticeable by consumers. Furthermore, special inks are used to ensure that information such as SKT and TETT is permanent and cannot be erased from the packaging.
for harder surfaces such as metal, , laser coding and marking machines are generally a more suitable choice
Electrojet, a long-standing player in this field, consistently meets the expectations of manufacturers. Offering a variety of options including inkjet and laser printers, our company provides effective solutions for coding needs.
As Electrojet, for Rynantech (Thermal Inkjet), a Singapore-based company that is a leading firm in the sector with distributors in 65 countries we are the main distributor in Turkey. We offer professional solutions for all your expiration date, best before date, marking, and other coding needs. Contact us today for more detailed information.
