We are frequently asked about the shelf life of our products. While many of our products last indefinitely, in order to protect both you and us, we date code our products with an expiration date of three years from the date of manufacture.
So what does this mean for you?
Basically, our date code protects you from purchasing old (sometimes very old) materials being pushed by less-than-reputable sources. We have seen a recent influx of very old materials being sold at steep discounts through eBay and other sources. While we can assess the age of the material by the packaging, you don’t have a way of knowing the age of a material without knowing the expiration date. We recommend that you ask for the expiration date before purchasing any products from an unknown supplier.
It doesn’t mean, however that you need to immediately toss that bottle of Tufoil or Formula-8 sitting on the shelf. If you are comfortable with knowing when you purchased it and from whom, it’s probably safe to use. Going forward, any new products you purchase will have a date on them.
What is the date code?
The date code is a seven-character code that begins with an E (for expiration). The numbers correspond to the month, date, and year (MMDDYY) of expiration. Remember, however, our products are not like the groceries you buy at your local store. Unlike milk and bread, our product may be useable long after the listed date, especially if it has been stored away from extreme hot and cold temperatures.
As always, Fluoramics engineering personnel are available to discuss this with you by phone at 1-800-922-0075 or email at [email protected].
