From nospamme@mybox.com Thu Apr 02 14:00:07 1998
From: "tryingtimes" 

12 to 15 months for dry Lipton soups?!?!
That seem short!

pumphrey@flush.*net wrote in message <6fukbq$8pb$1@excalibur.flash.net>...
>Here is the latest info on a series of contacts with companies about their
>expiration dates and product shelf life.
>I have copied it pretty much as it came to me. You may copy/delete
>however/whatever pleases you. This info came from hunting down web sites.
>Please remember that the companies (as should you) err on the side of safety.
>This is an addition to my previous post on Armour Star canned meat.
>
>
>
>KRAFT FOODS
>
>Thank you for visiting our Web-Site.
>
>It is difficult to tell you how long you can expect to store a product after
>the date stamped on the package.  Perishability of individual products does
>vary.
>How a product has been handled during distribution and in the home can also
>have a bearing on how long a product will stay fresh.  To assure the best
>quality and flavor, we recommend that
>you use this product on or before the date stamped.
>
>GENERAL MILLS
>
>Thank you for contacting us at the General Mills Corporate Web site for
>an explanation of our product code information.  All food products have
>an established length of time for storage.  Determining how long to save
>products is often confusing to consumers.
>
>The following overview, of the three methods of coding used on our
>products, will help you make these determinations:
>
>BETTER IF USED BY DATE
>Big G cereal and Bisquick use this style coding on the box tops.
>These products are guaranteed to be fresh through this date.
>
>SELL BY DATE
>Colombo and Yoplait refrigerated yogurts state this information on the
>containers or lids.
>For optimum quality, these products should be consumed within seven days
>after this date.
>
>MANUFACTURING DATE
>The manufacturing date is coded to the fiscal year, which begins on the
>1st of June and is completed the following May 31st.  It is interpreted
>as follows:
>
>*       The first letter of the code indicates the month in which the
>product was made.
>*       The number immediately following is the last number of the year
>in which the product was made.
>*       The next two numbers indicate the day of the month of
>production.
>*       The following letters and number(s) represent plant and shift
>information identifying the location of production.
>
>A code date which reads A829W is translated as follows:
>
>                                "A"     =       June
>                                "8"     =       1998
>                                "29"    indicates the 29th day of the
>month
>                                "W"     indicates production at our West
>Chicago plant.
>
>(Most of our products have a shelf life of at least 8-12 months.)
>
>Our 12-month cycle is listed below.  We don't use the letter "I" because
>it may be confused with a number.
>
>                                     A  -   JUNE
>                                     B  -   JULY
>                                     C  -   AUGUST
>                                     D  -   SEPTEMBER
>                                     E  -   OCTOBER
>                                     F  -   NOVEMBER
>                                     G  -   DECEMBER
>                                     H  -   JANUARY
>                                     J  -   FEBRUARY
>                                     K  -   MARCH
>                                     L  -   APRIL
>                                     M  -   MAY
>
>Once a product is past its shelf life date, the taste and performance
>may not be of the highest quality.  However, due to the low pH level of
>our products, it's virtually impossible for them to support food
>pathogens.
>
>The question of "freshness" is quite different in the case of meats,
>produce and dairy products, when compared with process-packed, canned or
>stable groceries.  The major consumer concern, with long shelf-life
>products such as ours, is not deterioration due to age, but
>deterioration due to improper storage after the product leaves our
>control.  Because imprinting pull dates on the tops of our products
>would not solve the problem, a more satisfactory answer was needed.
>Thus, we implemented our Product Guarantee.
>
>We are confident that the best protection we can give our consumers is
>to insure them against loss through this guarantee, which is printed on
>every carton of our food products.  It guarantees consumer satisfaction
>with the performance and/or quality of any General Mills' product
>purchased, or an adjustment will be made.
>
>We hope this information is helpful and that you continue to use and
>enjoy our products.
>
>CAMPBELL SOUP
>
> Thank you for taking the time to contact Campbell
>Soup. The recommended use by date is printed on the package. It
>always starts with a month and year. This is the last best date to
>consume the product by. After this date, we recommend that you
>discard the product. Please visit our web site again soon.
>
>LIPTON
>
>Lipton dried soup 12-15 months after production
>
>BERTOLLI OLIVE OIL
>
>Two years from date on package (bottle or can)
>

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