Food Storage Period Extended... From Expiration Date to Consumption Date Starting Next Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] With the implementation of the 'Consumption Period Labeling System,' which labels the consumption period instead of the expiration date on food products starting January 1 next year, it is expected that household food storage periods will increase.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced on the 1st, one month before the implementation of the consumption period labeling system, the release of the "Report on Setting Consumption Periods by Food Type," which includes reference consumption periods for 80 items across 23 food categories. The reference values are provisional consumption periods suggested by the MFDS. Companies can set consumption periods shorter than these reference values.

According to the report, the reference value for tofu, which previously had an expiration date of 17 days, has been set at 23 days, extending it by 6 days. The reference consumption period for snacks is 81 days, longer than the 45-day expiration date. Additionally, fruit and vegetable juices increased from 20 to 35 days, bread from 20 to 31 days, fish cakes from 29 to 42 days, and ham from 38 to 57 days.

In principle, companies must conduct their own experiments when setting consumption periods, but if they use the reference values, they do not need to perform their own tests. Due to amendments in the Food Labeling and Advertising Act, food companies must label the consumption period instead of the expiration date on food products (milk applies from 2031) starting January 1 next year.

While the expiration date indicates the period during which distribution and sale to consumers are permitted, the consumption period refers to the duration during which the food is considered safe to consume if storage conditions are properly followed. With the consumption period labeling system starting next year, companies can reduce food waste, and consumers can extend food storage periods. However, due to concerns about resource waste from discarding existing packaging, a one-year grace period will be in place next year.

The MFDS plans to disclose experimental results, including reference consumption periods, for 430 items across 50 food categories by the end of this month and will expand the scope of disclosure thereafter. The MFDS will continue to provide and expand reference consumption periods and methods for calculating safety factors tailored to the characteristics of products by food type and distribution and consumption conditions to ensure the stable establishment of the consumption period labeling system.