Why We Use Manufacture On Date Instead Of Expiration Date
The question has arisen several times as to why Doctor Wilsons Original Formulations uses a Manufactured On Date on its dietary supplement bottles rather than an Expiration Date. This is a good question and deserves an answer.
First lets look at the legal requirement. The dietary supplement industry is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration . As a part of that regulation, all segments of the dietary supplement industry are regulated under the final rules found for the Current Good Manufacturing Practice in the Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR Part 111, regulating Dietary Supplements. The Dietary Supplement cGMP final rule found in 21 CFR Part 111 does not require expiration dating for dietary supplements . Homeopathic remedies are also exempt from expiration dating .
Any company that does use an Expiration Date on their products must have data to support that date . In a FDA warning letter to Biogenix USA LLC 12/11/14, the agency stated, Any expiration date or equivalent term a company places on a product label should be supported by data that demonstrates the products shelf life. citing 72 Fed Reg 34752, 34855 .
Multivitamins Can Degrade Over Time
Like food, medicine, and beauty products, multivitamins can have a limited shelf life. Expiration dates are mostly about degradationloss of the vitamin molecular form, says Dr. Luke Bucci, PhD, CCN, CNS. In other words, when the nutrients in your multivitamin are no longer at their prime, they may start to break downwhich means expired multivitamins may not be meeting their label claims. Barring other possible health concerns, its unknown whether this is worrisome or not, he says. But its always a good idea to keep multivitamins fresh.*
How To Extend The Life Of Supplements
The higher the quality and grade of a particular supplement, the longer it will maintain potency following the expiration date. Do not refrigerate supplements unless the label advises to do so. All drugs and vitamin supplements should be stored in airtight containers. Keep all dietary supplements away from light, moisture, and heat.
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Shelf Life And Expiration Dates
Even though nutritional supplements contain expiration dates, unlike perishable foods such as milk or meat, they dont really spoil or go bad in the same way. When discussing the shelf life of a supplement, it is really the potency that is the primary concern, not ingredient spoiling or becoming toxic. It isnt dangerous to take expired vitamins, but they may have lost some potency.
The expiration date represents the last day the item will be at its highest level of potency and quality. In other words, up until that date the product is guaranteed to contain its labeled ingredient potencies and the tablet itself is guaranteed to disintegrate properly. Beyond the expiration date, nutrient potency may gradually decline. As such, we recommend consuming products before the printed expiration date.
Vitamins Do Expire But Not In The Same Way As Say Your Leftovers
Generally speaking, vitamins and supplements do expire, but its not viewed in the same way as when food expires. Expiration dates for food are put into place for public safety, as many perishable foods become harmful after they expire.
But according to Jessie Hawkins, director of theFranklin School of Integrative Health Sciences, who trains professionals on dietary supplement science, vitamins and dietary supplements dont usually go bad in the same way, due to the preparation processes.
They do not typically contain perishable ingredients, Hawkins said.
Charlotte Traas, director of education and training for vitamin companyNew Chapter, Inc., explained that vitamins are made up of nutrients. The reason they expire isnt because they go rancid or develop harmful bacteria, the way some foods do. Its because they experience nutrient degradation or breakdown, Traas said.
So essentially the concern with many expired supplements and vitamins is that they wont be as effective as they once were.
Erin Stokes, medical director atMegaFood supplement company, added that in the vitamin world, the expiration date is the date through which the product should be guaranteed to contain the amounts listed on the supplement facts label.
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Is It Dangerous To Take Expired Vitamins
The short answer: probably not. While you definitely want to stay far, far away from milk or chicken past its sell-by date, vitamins dont really expire in the way certain foods do. But according to experts, the ingredients will degrade over time, meaning the vitamins youre relying on for a nutrition boost may not be meeting your needs. You wont suffer any ill effects, but you will have wasted timeand, if you accidentally bought expired vitamins at the store, money.
According to Harvard Medical School, citing a column published in Psychopharmacology Today, this holds true for most medicines as well as vitamins and supplements. A large study conducted by the Food and Drug Administration on the military in the 1970s tested the potency of drugs stored for many years. As Harvard Health Publishing puts it, “What they found from the study is 90 percent of more than 100 drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, were perfectly good to use even 15 years after the expiration date.”
But if you realize after the fact that you’ve taken an expired prescription medicine, it’s still a good idea to call your doctor to make sure you’re getting the coverage you need.
Is It Safe To Take Vitamins Or Other Supplements That Are Past Their Expiration Date
Taking an expired vitamin or supplement is highly unlikely to cause you harm. Unlike food, vitamins dont go bad, nor do they become toxic or poisonous. At this time, there havent been any documented cases of illness or death resulting from expired vitamins.
Expiration dates on vitamins and dietary supplements are extremely conservative to ensure consumers receive quality products. For best results, avoid using vitamins that are past their expiration date. These vitamins may not be as potent.
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Is It Safe To Take Vitamins After The Expiration Date
On Assignment For HuffPost
If youre like most Americans, your cupboards contain an array of supplements. A2018 survey showed that 75% of U.S. residents are consuming some sort of dietary supplement, whether it be a probiotic, fish oil or multivitamin.
You may spend a considerable amount of time deciding what type of supplements to take, what brands you want and where to shop for them. Perhaps youve already built up your own collection. But have you ever stopped to think about how long those supplements last? Do vitamins ever expire? And if so, is it safe to consume them beyond the products expiration dates?
We surveyed experts to find out what you should know:
How To Tell When Your Care/of Vitamins Were Manufactured
This is really simple, though it took me a minute to figure it out.
Your daily vitamins will come in a little plastic pouch.
On the front, youll see a little month and date printed in very, very small ink.
See it on mine?
Here, let me give you a closer look.
Theres some kind of manufacturing code on the left, but the key date you need is on the right.
Now its very important to remember, this is the MANUFACTURED date, not the expiration date.
In my experience, the vitamins were freshly made pretty much right before my order shipped out, so they were brand new.
According to Care/Of, the vitamins are good for up to 6 months past this date.
As for powders and other supplements, I got some maca root powder with my order but those pacakges didnt seem to have a manufactured on date.
My best guess is that they were made fresh in roughly the same time period.
In any case, you have about a year to use up powdered supplements according to Care/Of.
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How Should I Dispose Of Expired Vitamins
If your vitamins are past their expiration date, its best to treat them as you would any other expired medication. That is, dont just throw them in the trash or flush them down the toilet, where they could potentially contaminate the water supply. Instead, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends mixing them with kitty litter or used coffee grounds, sealing the mixture in an airtight container, and then tossing the whole thing into a garbage can.
Even if the date on your vitamin bottle is months or years away, keep an eye on the contents. If you notice a change in the pills color or odor, dispose of them immediatelythose kinds of changes could indicate the presence of mold or other contaminants that could be harmful for your health.
This article was originally published on October 7, 2017. It was updated on January 7, 2019.
What Is The Best Way To Store Vitamins
It is recommended to keep vitamins in their original containers in a cool, dry place and out of direct sunlight. If possible, avoid more humid and warm areas of the site, such as the kitchen or bathrom.
Rather, it is best to keep them in a bedroom drawer or closet.
Some supplements may benefit from being stored in the fridge, these include:
- fish oil
- flaxseed
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What Do Those Expiration Dates Mean Anyway
Chances are youve got a few bottles of expired medicine lying around the house. So what happens when youre in dire need of some cold medicine and the only package youve got is two years old? Heres how expiration dates work.
Prescriptions and OTC drugs In 1979, a law was passed that mandated that all drug manufacturers put a stamped expiration date on their drugs. This stamp represents the manufacturers guarantee of the full efficacy and safety of the drug. That doesnt necessarily mean that the drug is not stable after this date it simply guarantees that it is stable in a sealed container with full potency up to this date. The average expiration date is between one and five years.
A study conducted by the FDA found that 90 percent of more than 100 tested prescription and over-the-counter drugs were found to be safe and effective far past their expiration datemany up to 10 years. While the original effectiveness of the drug may decrease over time, many drugs can be considered safe for use past expiration .
Here is the general wisdom on the expiration dates of different types of supplements:
Generally, the higher the quality and grade of the supplement, the longer a dietary supplement will maintain potency past the expiration date. Natural supplements generally do not degrade into anything toxic or harmful over timethis also would be dependent on proper storage.
When And Why Vitamins Expire
How quickly a vitamin expires depends on several factorssome of which are related to manufacturing and others related to your own habits.
- Form of vitamin: Gummy vitamins and liquids tend to expire more quickly than tablets, capsules, and softgels.
- Type of container: Some vitamins retain their potency longer in opaque containers versus those with a clear container, due to the effect of UV rays from sunlight.
- Type of container cap: Similarly, the type of capscrew-on versus flip-topmay impact shelf life. If a flip-top cap does not create an appropriate seal when closed, vitamins are exposed to more humidity, which makes them break down more quickly.
- Storage conditions: If you store vitamins in a high-humidity area like a bathroom medicine cabinet, they may deteriorate more quickly. Similarly, avoid exposing them to a lot of light. A cool, dark cabinet is best for most products.
- Contamination: If you reach into the vitamin container every morning after getting the kids lunch ready, you could contaminate the bottle with food residue or bacterial particles and impact shelf-life.
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How Long Do Care/of Vitamins Last
I may receive a commission for purchases made through product links on this page, but I always stand by my opinions and endorsements!
I recently tried a month of Care/Of Vitamins .
It was a really interesting experiment and I felt physically pretty great for those 30 days!
Care/Of is a company that gives you a lifestyle quiz to figure out what you need the most: more sleep? Better workouts? Stress relief?
And they figure out a stack of daily supplements and vitamins to help improve your life in the areas you need the most.
If youre thinking about giving the service a try, or if you already have, you might be wondering:
How long do Care/Of vitamins last?
Care/Of vitamins, according to the company, have a shelf life of about 6 months from the date they were manufactured. Care/Of powders, like whey protein, should last for about a year.
After that, you probably shouldnt use them.
But there are a few more things that itll help to know, so lets go just a little bit deeper on this topic!
Side Effects Of Taking Expired Vitamins
As research indicates that expired vitamins are typically safe to take, these products are unlikely to cause side effects just because they are out of date.
However, if a person is unaware that their supplement has expired, they may believe that they are consuming more nutrients than they really are.
For example, a person on a vegan diet may need to take a vitamin B-12 supplement regularly to stay healthy. Taking an expired supplement may mean that they are not getting enough of the vitamin.
A vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause complications such as shortness of breath, depression, and neurological problems. Overall, if a person relies on a supplement to fill a gap in their diet, they should keep track of the supplements expiration date.
Another example involves folic acid during pregnancy. Expired folic acid supplements may not deliver enough folate to the woman and the developing baby. Consuming enough folic acid is important during pregnancy, as it of birth abnormalities.
Vitamin supplements can cause side effects, though this is unlikely to relate to their expiration. Anyone who experiences adverse effects of a nonessential supplement should stop taking it.
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Whats The Best Way To Store Vitamins
Vitamins should be stored in their original containers in a cool, dry place.
You may be inclined to store your vitamins in your bathroom or kitchen for ease of access, but these are actually two of the worst storage locations. The bathroom and kitchen typically have more heat and humidity than other rooms.
If you can, opt for a linen closet or bedroom drawer.
You should also avoid exposing them to light. Some vitamins like vitamins A and D will lose their potency after prolonged exposure.
Refrigeration can also help extend the shelf life of products that are less stable at room temperature. This includes:
How Long Do Vitamins Last
The shelf life of vitamins and supplements varies by product. If the product has an expiration date listed, it means the company should have conducted stability studies to determine how long the product remains potent.
Ferira explains, “Potency simply means that the ingredients in the product remain at or above the dose they are listed at on the ‘supplement facts’ panel on the back of the product.”
Other companies may choose to list a manufacturing date instead. “If stored properly, most vitamins have a shelf-life of up to two years,” holistic pharmacist Joanna Lewis, PharmD, says. Meaning, they essentially ‘expire’ two years after the manufacturing date.
If youre unsure if your product is expired, check the manufacturers website or consult a pharmacist.
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How To Dispose Of Vitamins And Supplements
To properly dispose of vitamins and supplements, follow the instructions on the packaging. If there are no instructions, the FDA says to drop the product off at your local pharmacy, or check to see if the product is safe to flush .
- Crush the product up and mix it with coffee grounds, cat litter, or mulch.
- Place the mixture in a sealed bag.
- Dispose of the bag in your trash.
- If your container happened to list personal information, remove it, and recycle the bottle accordingly.
Overview Of Care/of Vitamins
Washing your face, brushing your teeth, taking your supplementsthese are all things we have to do, but rarely enjoy doing. Though the wellness industry has boomed in the last two decades, our daily vitamins didnt receive much attention. That is until Care/of hit the market in 2016.
The brand was founded by friends Craig Elbert and Akash Shah. The pair wanted to take the guesswork out of supporting your body. They first launched a trial quiz for their friends and family, who filled out key information about their age, diets, activity levels, energy, and more, before receiving customized vitamin recommendations.
The response was outstanding. So, they built their team, purchased vitamin supply chains, and launched their unique service to the world. The company has grown significantly since then, now running a Research and Development office in Vermont that joins its flagship office in New York City.
The Care/of quiz aims to answer your health needs while making it clear that the brands recommendations should not be used to replace doctor-prescribed advice. But, the company only offers pills and powders that come backed by scientific research.
Whether youre a skeptic or a believer, Care/of and its line of vitamins has grown to immense success. Forbes has referred to it as one of the best startup employers, and its products have recently launched in Target.
Now that you know more about the brands roots, this Care/of vitamins review will summarize the pros and cons:
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