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M.O.R.E. HomePrograms > Food Pantry > Food Retention Guidelines

RETENTION GUIDELINES
(for Unopened Food)

Below is a list of products and its associated food retention guidelines.

Product

  • Adult & Baby Formulas
  • Baby Food Jars or cans
  • Beans/peas dried
  • Aseptic Containers (except Juicy Juice)
  • Baby cereal
  • Bottles & Jars (Exceptions listed in other categories)
  • Ocean Spray Juice (plastic)--for glass add 30 days
  • Ragu & Bertolli Pasta Sauces
  • Ocean Spray Craisins
  • Candy
  • Canned Goods--low acid (except College Brand Broths)
  • Canned Goods--high acid
  • Cookies (except Keebler)
  • Cereal
  • Tea bags
  • Tea loose
  • Tea instant (except Lipton tea mixes)
  • Cocoa and Cocoa mixes
  • Corn Flake Crumbs & Croutettes
  • Crackers & snack crackers (exceptions listed in other categories)
  • Condiments (except dressings and mayonnaise)
  • Dairy---liquid shelf stable milk, cheese, Velveeta, Cheese Wiz & Dry
  • Canned and evaporated milk
  • Dried beans
  • Flour and flour mixes (except stone ground or blue flour)
  • Spices Whole (Spices Ground)
  • Adolph's & Lawry's Dry seasonings (liquid)
  • Dry soup mixes (except Lipton)
  • Jellies, jams & preserves
  • Popcorn dry kernels
  • Microwave popcorn
  • Popcorn popped
  • Sauce mixes, non-dairy (spaghetti, taco, etc.)
  • Mayonnaise (pure)
  • Oils (except Bertolli)
  • Over-the-Counter medicines and Vitamins
  • Pasta & Rice
  • Brown rice
  • Instant rice
  • Peanut Butter (except Skippy brand)

  • Potato chips
  • Soda & mixers in plastic & diet in cans (regular soda cans)
  • Vinegar
  • Water
  • Yeast & pectin
  • Salad Dressings (except Wish-Bone)

 

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Usable Past Code Date

Use before code date
2 months
1 year
4-6 months

Use before code date
6 months

30 days plastic, 60 days glass except citress; these are 30 days
2 months
4 months
12-18 months
2-5 years (5 months)

12-18 months
2 months (4 months)
6-12 months
18 months
2 years
3 years (6 months)
indefinitely
2 years
8 months

12 months

2 months

1 year
1 year
6-12 months (1 month)

2-4 years
6 months (3 months)

1 year (6 months)
1 year
2 years
1 year
3 months
2 years

2-3 months
6 months (Bertolli Olive Oil use by code date)
1 month prior to expiration date

2 years
1 year
2 months
6 months (5 months) note: Skippy Squeeze-it 2months
2 months

3 months (9 months)
2 years
1-2 years
Use before code date
2 months (3 months)Kraft BBQ Sauce 18 oz.