Food and beverage manufacturers are often faced with figuring out what to do with product that is near its “sell by,” “use by,” or “best by” date. These dates prevent them from being able to sell through traditional customer channels and they must find new ways to salvage not only the product but the potential revenue.
Near-Expired Doesn’t Mean Unsafe
It may come as a surprise, but The Food and Drug Administration actually approves of the consumption of outdated food and beverages. The government agency says that expiration dates are simply an indication of optimum quality as deemed by the manufacturer and are more like guidelines between the supplier and the grocer, not indicative of the product safety.
“Foods can remain safe to consume for some time beyond sell-by and even use-by dates provided they are handled and stored properly,” said Dr. Ted Labuza, professor of food science at the University of Minnesota. As long as the product was handled and stored appropriately throughout the supply chain, safe food handling and cooking instructions were followed, and the product does not exhibit signs of spoilage — they can still be safely consumed.
Zipline Logistics regularly helps customers with shipping their near-expired goods. So, we wanted to pass along our knowledge, in case you are looking for a new alternative.
To be clear – these tips are not for product that has been contaminated or spoiled, but for product that has dented packaging or is too close to its expiration date to sell through traditional channels. Food safety is extremely important. Product that has fallen out of safe temperature range, been exposed to contaminants, or is in any other way unsafe, should be destroyed.
Sell Near-Expired Product to Grocery Outlets
Grocery outlets are supermarkets that specialize in selling items that traditional grocery chains don’t want to sell – such as dented cans, overstocks, or items near the expiration date. Discount grocers buy these products for pennies on the dollar, reselling to consumers at low prices.
Sell Near-Expired Product to Snack Food Manufacturers
Curated snack boxes and subscription services send out product to consumers and offices on a monthly basis. The idea is for products to be consumed before the next shipment comes. Therefore, expiration dates are often less restrictive and can be reasonably near the ship date.
Sell Near-Expired Product to Frozen Manufacturers
Food remains safe to eat when it is properly stored and frozen, so, many ingredient suppliers sell their near-expired product to frozen food manufacturers. Ingredients are incorporated before the use-by or expiration dates then frozen to lock in freshness.
Use for Promotions and Sampling
Grocery stores often use produce that’s near spoilage for their prepared food stations. The product is still safe and delicious when fully cooked. Brands can leverage this practice, too. Do you have any upcoming tradeshows, sponsored events, or sampling opportunities? Bringing near-expired food and beverage to hand out to guests is an acceptable way to use up product. Food and beverages are consumed immediately, so there are no safety concerns.
Donate Product to Military or Local Shelters/Pantries
Some brands opt to donate product rather than to sell at a discounted price. Food banks and other charity organizations happily accept packaged foods near expiration.
Sustainable Operations Minimize Waste
It’s no secret that many consumers now consider the sustainability of a product before purchasing, much like they consider price or quality. In fact, a recent study suggests that more than a third of global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products as demand grows for environmentally friendly alternatives.
Instead of simply tossing your near-expired product, we hope you consider these alternatives and keep your operations as green as possible.
However you choose to move forward with your near-expired product, Zipline Logistics can ship it to its final destination before time runs out.
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