SHELF LIFE OF FOOD
Shelf-life
• Time during which the food product will:
remain safe; retain desired sensory, chemical,
physical and microbiological characteristics;
comply with any label declaration of
nutritional data, when stored under the
recommended conditions
• It begins from the time the food is finished
processing and packaged.
Factors Affecting Shelf life
Intrinsic Factors Extrinsic Factors
Water Activity Time–temperature profile during
processing; pressure in the
headspace
pH Temperature control during storage
Redox potential (Eh) Relative humidity (RH)
Available oxygen Exposure to light (UV and IR)
Nutrients Environmental microbial counts
during
Natural microflora and surviving
microbiological counts
Composition of atmosphere within
packaging.
Use of preservatives in product
formulation
Subsequent heat treatment
Shelf life indication on food
• Use by date - foods that have a use by date are
generally regarded as unsafe to eat after the
designated date because a build-up of bad
bacteria may have occurred – even if the food
in question still looks and smells good enough
to consume.
• It is about safety
• Best Before – It signifies that although the date
on the package may have passed, the product
is still safe to consume on the proviso the item
has been stored according to instructions,
while still generally maintaining its colour,
texture and flavour.
• It is about quality of food.
Methods
1. Accelerated shelf-life testing - The food
product is conditioned and stored at elevated
temperature and/or humidity and the quality
changes of the product are evaluated at a
specific sampling rate.
• It can be two to four times faster than the real
shelf life study.
Kinetic Model
Zero order kinetics –
ts = A0 - Ae
k
A0 = initial conc
Ae = Conc of A at the
end of shelf life
k = Zero order rate
const
First order kinetics –
ts = ln (A0/Ae)
k
A0 = initial conc
Ae = Conc of A at the
end of shelf life
k = First order rate
const
2. Real Time shelf life testing – Food products are
Stored under stated or selected conditions for
longer than the expected shelf life and check at
regular intervals to see when spoilage begins.
Parameters for measuring shelf life
Sensory Changes –
• Product’s appearance, consistency, colour,
aroma, taste, texture were analyzed by
panellists.
• These are usually quantitative quality
measures from trained panels
Sensory testing
Analytical test Hedonic Test
Difference Test
Quantitative
Test
Simple
Descriptive
Duo-Trio
Triangle
Paired
Comparison
Profiling
Time
Intensity
Preference
Acceptability
Relative to
ideal
Physico-Chemical analysis –
• It is used to measure the end points of chemical
reactions occurring in food during storage, or to
confirm the results obtained by the sensory
panels.
• Generally pH, Moisture, Acidity, Salt content,
TSS are calculated.
Microbiological analysis –
• It determine microbial growth, which leads to
the spoilage of a food product and the growth
of microbial pathogens that affect the safety of
the product.
• E.coli, Coliform, TPC, Yeast & mold and other
bacteria (depending on sample) are
determined.
Conclusion
• Shelf life of food vary with different food
items, packaging, storage, distribution etc.
• Accelerated shelf life test (ASLT) and Real time
are 2 methods for calculation.
• Sensory, physico-chemical, microbial analysis
used to determine shelf life.

Shelf life of food

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Shelf-life • Time duringwhich the food product will: remain safe; retain desired sensory, chemical, physical and microbiological characteristics; comply with any label declaration of nutritional data, when stored under the recommended conditions • It begins from the time the food is finished processing and packaged.
  • 3.
    Factors Affecting Shelflife Intrinsic Factors Extrinsic Factors Water Activity Time–temperature profile during processing; pressure in the headspace pH Temperature control during storage Redox potential (Eh) Relative humidity (RH) Available oxygen Exposure to light (UV and IR) Nutrients Environmental microbial counts during Natural microflora and surviving microbiological counts Composition of atmosphere within packaging. Use of preservatives in product formulation Subsequent heat treatment
  • 4.
    Shelf life indicationon food • Use by date - foods that have a use by date are generally regarded as unsafe to eat after the designated date because a build-up of bad bacteria may have occurred – even if the food in question still looks and smells good enough to consume. • It is about safety
  • 5.
    • Best Before– It signifies that although the date on the package may have passed, the product is still safe to consume on the proviso the item has been stored according to instructions, while still generally maintaining its colour, texture and flavour. • It is about quality of food.
  • 6.
    Methods 1. Accelerated shelf-lifetesting - The food product is conditioned and stored at elevated temperature and/or humidity and the quality changes of the product are evaluated at a specific sampling rate. • It can be two to four times faster than the real shelf life study.
  • 7.
    Kinetic Model Zero orderkinetics – ts = A0 - Ae k A0 = initial conc Ae = Conc of A at the end of shelf life k = Zero order rate const First order kinetics – ts = ln (A0/Ae) k A0 = initial conc Ae = Conc of A at the end of shelf life k = First order rate const
  • 8.
    2. Real Timeshelf life testing – Food products are Stored under stated or selected conditions for longer than the expected shelf life and check at regular intervals to see when spoilage begins.
  • 9.
    Parameters for measuringshelf life Sensory Changes – • Product’s appearance, consistency, colour, aroma, taste, texture were analyzed by panellists. • These are usually quantitative quality measures from trained panels
  • 10.
    Sensory testing Analytical testHedonic Test Difference Test Quantitative Test Simple Descriptive Duo-Trio Triangle Paired Comparison Profiling Time Intensity Preference Acceptability Relative to ideal
  • 11.
    Physico-Chemical analysis – •It is used to measure the end points of chemical reactions occurring in food during storage, or to confirm the results obtained by the sensory panels. • Generally pH, Moisture, Acidity, Salt content, TSS are calculated.
  • 12.
    Microbiological analysis – •It determine microbial growth, which leads to the spoilage of a food product and the growth of microbial pathogens that affect the safety of the product. • E.coli, Coliform, TPC, Yeast & mold and other bacteria (depending on sample) are determined.
  • 13.
    Conclusion • Shelf lifeof food vary with different food items, packaging, storage, distribution etc. • Accelerated shelf life test (ASLT) and Real time are 2 methods for calculation. • Sensory, physico-chemical, microbial analysis used to determine shelf life.