Tokyo Food Safety Information Center » Tokyo Metropolitan Government food safety FAQ »Are large amounts of food additives used in foods with long best-before dates?
Are large amounts of food additives used in foods with long best-before dates?
Are large amounts of food additives used in foods with long best-before dates?
Food additives such as preservatives and antioxidants can improve the shelf life of foods. However, the length of the expiration and best-before date of a given food depends on a variety of factors in addition to the additives used, such as hygienic conditions when the food was made, the characteristics of the individual ingredients used, and temperature control during distribution.
Food additives such as preservatives and antioxidants may be used to prevent food decomposition, deterioration, and oxidation, and to increase shelf life. However, there are restrictions on the foods with which such additives can be used and how much can be used.
In addition, as food shelf life is not determined only by the use of food additives, it is not always true that processed foods with long expiration and best-before dates are made with large amounts of preservatives. A variety of factors influence expiration and best-before dates, including hygiene management and production methods during food production, the characteristics of the individual ingredients used, temperature control during distribution, and the moisture content of the product.
In principle, all additives used to make a food must be shown on the food’s label. Accordingly, if you are concerned, you can quickly see what additives were used simply by checking this label.
In addition, as food shelf life is not determined only by the use of food additives, it is not always true that processed foods with long expiration and best-before dates are made with large amounts of preservatives. A variety of factors influence expiration and best-before dates, including hygiene management and production methods during food production, the characteristics of the individual ingredients used, temperature control during distribution, and the moisture content of the product.
In principle, all additives used to make a food must be shown on the food’s label. Accordingly, if you are concerned, you can quickly see what additives were used simply by checking this label.