Eurofins Food Testing UK Ltd. has released new guidance to help customers understand how product shelf-life is determined. The document, Determining Product Shelf-Life, explains the process from initial study design to interpreting results, helping food businesses plan effective, defensible shelf-life studies.
This practical guide supports our existing shelf-life determination service, outlining the key considerations involved in selecting the right study type, defining acceptance criteria, and using data to set accurate and compliant shelf-life dates.
Download now: Determining Shelf-Life
Understanding the shelf-life process
Determining shelf-life is essential for ensuring product quality, safety, and compliance. The new guidance highlights when to use real-time or accelerated storage studies and explains how microbiological challenge testing can complement standard analysis where product risk warrants it.
It also outlines how Eurofins Food Testing UK Ltd. works with clients to design appropriate protocols that reflect product composition, packaging, storage conditions, and distribution routes. The guide provides clarity on interpreting data and setting conservative shelf-lives that protect consumers while minimising waste.
Supporting quality and regulatory compliance
Accurate shelf-life determination underpins due diligence, helps demonstrate regulatory alignment, and meets both retailer and industry expectations. Eurofins Food Testing UK performs tailored studies through ISO 17025 accredited laboratories, combining chemistry, microbiology, and sensory testing to generate robust, evidence-based conclusions.
All methods are developed to reflect current UK and EU standards and industry best practice, helping businesses make informed decisions with confidence.
Related reading; best-before and use-by
For additional insight, we also offers “A Perspective on Best-Before replacing Use-By dates”, which explores the regulatory and safety considerations involved in date marking.
Download here: A Perspective on Best-Before replacing Use-By dates
Speak to our team
If you would like advice or support in planning a shelf-life study, our specialists can help you choose the most suitable approach for your product.
Submit an enquiry or call +44 (0) 845 604 6740.
October 2025
