{"id":13123,"date":"2021-09-22T10:50:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-22T14:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/maplejet.com\/?p=13123"},"modified":"2023-12-18T02:25:31","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T07:25:31","slug":"common-date-coding-phrases-in-the-food-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maplejet.com\/news\/common-date-coding-phrases-in-the-food-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"What are date coding printers and the most common date coding phrases in the food industry?"},"content":{"rendered":"
A date coding printer is an essential part of the manufacturing and distribution of goods in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industry. When you visit a grocery store, every food product on the shelves has a date code printed on its packaging. These date codes or labels are not some silly characters, they provide important information to help avoid product waste and food poisoning.<\/p>
Date codes are printed on medicine boxes, bottles, and other medical equipment in the pharmaceutical industry. In food, the date codes are printed on flexible packages, films, cartons, water bottles, juice boxes, soda tin cans, etc. For printing these date codes and labels, various printers are available in the market; however, the thermal inkjet printer<\/a> is one of the best options, especially when printing on flexible packages. <\/p> Most food packaging has one or more data labels: use by, best before, and display until. In Europe, according to the 1996 Food Labeling Regulations<\/a>, The ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ labels are essential by law. Retailers added the “display until” label to assist in inventory management. <\/p> Below are the commonly used date code phrases, labels, and information you will find in every food package:<\/p> <\/p> This date refers to the durable life of the product in terms of quality, taste, texture, aroma, and appearance. By definition from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency<\/a>, durable life means \u201cthe anticipated amount of time that an unopened food product, when stored under appropriate conditions, will retain its freshness, taste, nutritional value, or any other qualities claimed by the manufacturer.\u201d You will find this date just under the phrase \u201cbest before\u201d or “meilleur avant” in Canada. In the US, when you visit a store you will usually find a phrase like \u201cBest if Used By\/Before” which indicates when food will be of best flavor or quality.<\/p><\/div>\n\nBest before<\/strong><\/h4>