Shelf life is defined as the period during which a food product remains safe, high-quality, and acceptable for consumption under specified storage conditions. Determining shelf life accurately is a foundational step in product development, as it ensures that safety, quality, and sensory characteristics are maintained consistently throughout a product’s intended use. Equally critical is understanding product stability, which encompasses not only how a product resists chemical, microbial, and organoleptic changes over time but also how it responds to variations in storage, handling, and environmental conditions. A strong grasp of both shelf life and stability allows food manufacturers to prevent spoilage, maintain flavor and texture, and extend marketability while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
At the Solutions Showcase during IFT FIRST 2025, Anza Bester, Senior Director, Global Key Accounts, and Erdogan Ceylan, Director of Scientific Affairs, Global Key Accounts, presented a comprehensive overview of both the scientific principles and practical approaches to shelf-life determination. Their session highlighted the many factors that influence shelf life and stability, including microbial spoilage, chemical degradation, and sensory changes, emphasizing that every product requires a customized protocol tailored to its formulation, ingredients, and processing methods.
The session also explored advanced methodologies, including durability studies and challenge studies, such as Clostridium botulinum studies, which evaluate the potential for microbial growth or survival under real-world storage conditions. Additionally, techniques like metagenomics were discussed for assessing complex microbial communities that may affect product stability. Critical variables—including ingredient quality, water activity, packaging materials, temperature control, and sanitation practices—directly impact shelf life outcomes. Even small changes in formulation or processing can affect stability, making regular validation studies essential to ensure reproducibility, regulatory compliance, and long-term consumer safety. By integrating these approaches, manufacturers can design scientifically robust shelf-life protocols that maintain both quality and stability throughout a product’s lifecycle.
For companies launching new products or reformulating existing ones, understanding shelf life and product stability is essential to meet consumer expectations and comply with regulatory standards. To dive deeper into the science behind product stability, explore our ongoing Research Projects or Shelf Life services to help design robust protocols for your food products.