Expiration dates of dry and wet dog food
Most dog owners prefer to buy ready-made food for their pets: providing a pet with homemade food is more difficult, and today's hectic lifestyles often make it difficult to buy fresh produce and prepare meals for themselves every day. Pet owners typically focus primarily on the quality of canned food or dry kibble. However, the shelf life and storage conditions of food are just as important as its ingredients—improper storage or exceeding expiration dates can lead to spoilage or contamination, and consequently, health problems for the dog.
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What determines shelf life?
The "Best Before" label on a pet food package indicates the date after which the food will no longer contain the substances listed in the ingredients. In some cases, the manufacturer also provides a manufacturing date and expiration date. To extend the shelf life of food products, the pet food industry uses natural or artificial preservatives—substances that inhibit microbial activity and slow down oxidation processes.
Natural preservatives include:
- citric acid;
- vitamins E (tocopherol) and C (ascorbic acid);
- herbal extracts with antioxidant properties.
Artificial preservatives are chemical compounds:
- Propyl gallate (E310) is an ester of gallic acid and propyl alcohol;
- Ethoxyquin (santoquin) is a synthetic antioxidant;
- Propylene glycol (E12520) is a preservative with bactericidal properties;
- Salicylic acid (BHA) is an antioxidant;
- Ionol (butylhydroxytoluene, BHT) is a representative of the group of phenolic antioxidants.
Good to know! Artificial preservatives are less safe but more effective than natural ones. Therefore, pet foods containing synthetic preservatives typically have a longer shelf life.
Standard shelf life of dry and wet food
Unopened dog food can be stored at room temperature until the expiration date printed on the can or pouch. Only canned foods with a storage temperature below 10°C (50°F) should be refrigerated. Dry food should not be stored in high-humidity areas (such as the bathroom), as it may absorb moisture and become moldy despite being sealed.
The expiration dates for various types of pet food concentrates are determined by the technical regulations "On Requirements for Feed and Feed Additives," registered with the Russian Ministry of Justice. Specialized veterinary drug biological safety laboratories assess the expiration dates.
Research includes:
- control analyses of the composition of stored samples of food concentrates;
- the use of accelerated methods of aging products using exposure to temperature, oxygen, and UV rays;
- application of mathematical modeling methods.
Canned dog food packaged in metal cans typically has a shelf life of 2-3 years. Those packaged in airtight stand-up pouches, flow packs, pouches, or sachets have a shelf life of no more than 2 years. Dry kibble or kibbles are good for consumption for one year.
How to store opened food
A single-serving portion of food is often too large for a single feeding, so it's important to know how to store opened canned or dry food. The main threats to food in an opened package are oxygen, light, moisture, and heat. These factors lead to the oxidation of fats, the destruction of vitamins, and even the rotting of the ingredients.
Standard guidelines recommend placing enough wet food in your dog's bowl for the animal to eat in one sitting. Unused canned food should be refrigerated (not frozen). It should be kept at room temperature for up to 4 hours, and in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours (some manufacturers specify a 3-day shelf life). The best storage container is a tightly sealed glass or food-grade plastic container.
Important! Before feeding your pet canned food that has been refrigerated, warm it to room temperature. Do not feed cold food to pets!
Dry food can be fed to animals for 4-5 weeks after opening the original packaging. For some kibble types made with synthetic preservatives, the shelf life can be up to 10 weeks. This period is usually indicated on the packaging. Store the contents of the package in a tightly sealed container to protect the concentrate from moisture, oxygen, and light. It's best to use special containers for this purpose, preferably storing the food in the original packaging.
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