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GSO 150 (2007) (English): Expiration periods of food

products
           
STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION FOR G.C.C (GSO)

GSO 150/2007

    

Expiration periods of food products

ICS : 67.040.00
     
Expiration periods of food products

Date of GSO Board of Directors' Approval : 19/5/1428h (5/6/2007)

Issuing Status : Technical regulations
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Foreword

GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a regional Organization which consists of the

National Standards Bodies of GCC member States. One of GSO main functions is to issue
Gulf Standards /Technical regulations through specialized technical committees (TCs).

GSO through the technical program of committee TC No.:.(5) " Gulf technical committee for
standards of food and agriculture products " has updated the GSO Standard No. 150/1993 "
Expiration Periods of food products : part 1 " & GSO Standard No. 1023/2000 " Expiration
Periods of food products : part 2 " The Draft Standard has been prepared by ( Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia) .

This standard has been approved as a Gulf Technical Regulation by GSO Board of Directors
in its meeting No.(6),held on 19/5/1428h (5/6/2007G) . The approved standard will replace
and supersede the GSO standards No. (150/1993 & 1023/2000).


GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Expiration periods Of Food Products

1. SCOPE AND FIELD OF APPLICATION

This standard is concerned with expiration periods for food products.
2. COMPLEMENTARY REFERENCES
2.1 GSO 9/2007 “Labelling of Prepackaged Foods”.
2.2 GSO food product Standards mentioned in this standard .
2.3 GSO Food packaging Standards.
3. DEFINITIONS
3.1 Expiration period: A period during which the product retains its specific properties
and remains permissible, acceptable and fit for human consumption under the set
packaging, transportation and storage conditions.
3.2 Foodstuff: Any substance whether processed, semi-processed or unprocessed,
which is intended for direct human consumption or used in manufacturing,
preparing or treating of food stuff. It does not include perfumes, tobacco and
tobacco products or any substances used only as drugs.
3.3 Expiration date: The date designating the end of the expiration period under the set
packaging, transportation and storage conditions.
3.4 Production date: The date on which the food becomes an end product suitable for
packaging.
4. REQUIREMENTS
4.1 Without prejudice to what is stated in GSO Standard (item 2.1) “Labelling of
Prepackaged Foods” and to the Gulf standards for each food product, the
production and expiration dates shall be declared on the label of the package /or
the package in an uncoded manner as follows:
– [Day-Month-Year] for food products having an expiration period less than 3
months.
– [Month-Year] for food products having an expiration period exceeding 3 months.
The use of any of the following statements for expressing the expiration date is
permissible, it is mandatory to mention the production date:
– Expiration date;
– Use by:.............................................(date);
– Fit for:.............................................from the date of production;
– Use before: ......................................(date);
– Sell by:.............................................(date),( for food products having an expiration
period exceeding 3 months).
4.2 in case of writing production and expiration dates in month and year only, the
expiration period shall be calculated up to the end of the registered expiration
month.

9
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

4.3 Dates shall be engraved or in relief, printed or stamped by irremovable ink directly
on all packages or on their original label by the producer only. Adding stickers for
production and expiration dates is not permissible. There shall be not more than
one date of production or of expiration on the same package. Both dates shall not
be subject to deletion, change or deceit.
4.4 This GS standard include Mandatory Expiration periods and Indicative Expiration
periods As follows :
4.4.1 Mandatory Expiration periods of food products.
4.4.1.1 Chilled food products : To be stored at a temperature from 00C – 50C

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Meat and Meat Products
Suitable
Chilled meat packed 90 days from
containers
under carbon dioxide slaughtering Temperature (-0.5 ± 1)oC
eliminating
atmosphere date
gases exchange
7 days Except brain and testis
Suitable from Expiration period which
containers slaughtering shall not exceed 5 days
date from slaughtering date.
Edible organs and
Packed under
viscera such as 51 days from
vacuum in
kidneys, heart, brain, slaughtering Temperature (-0.5 ± 1)oC
suitable plastic
tongue, and poultry date
containers
giblets .... etc.
Packed under
carbon dioxide 90 days from
atmosphere in slaughtering Temperature (-0.5 ± 1)oC
suitable date
containers

J
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Product Type of Expiration Notes

Packaging Period
Poultry meat (chicken
- duck - goose - turkey Suitable plastic 7 days from
- rabbits - pigeons containers slaughtering
- quails .... etc).

Poultry chicken that

has been treated with Suitable plastic 12 days from
irradiation dose of 3 containers slaughtering
kGy(kilogray)

21 days from
Suitable
Beef and buffalo meat slaughtering
containers
date
14 days from
Suitable
Mutton and goat meat slaughtering
containers
date
10 weeks from
Meat packed under Plastic
slaughtering
vacuum containers
date
Milk and Milk Products
Tightly sealed
suitable plastic
Pasteurized cream 21 days
or carton
containers
In case of using
Tightly sealed
Labnah heat treated aluminium cover it shall
plastic 4 months
after fermentation be isolated as to not
containers
contact the product
Pasteurized milk and Tightly sealed
flavoured Pasteurized suitable
milk 5 days
containers,
plastic or paper
Suitable tightly
Yoghurt and flavoured
sealed 10 days
yoghurt
containers
Heat treated yoghurt Suitable
6 weeks
after fermentation containers
Suitable
Labnah 15 days
containers

K
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Suitable tightly
Laban and flavoured
sealed 7 days
Laban
containers
Suitable
Butter 2 months
containers
Other Different Products
Pasteurized fruit Plastic or carton 30 days
juices, drinks and containers
nectars
Packed in
Margarine 3 months
plastic foils

4.4.1.2 Baby foods Products stored in well-ventilated stores (Temperature shall not
exceed 25 oC) :-
Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Tightly sealed
Sterilized liquid milk
glass or plastic 9 months
prepared for infants
containers

Sealed metal
containers
packed under
vacuum and
Milky Dried Food for sterilized 18 months
Children containers or
packed under
vacuum and
sterilized in the
packaging
carton
Baby foods in the Cardboard
form of powder or containers lined
12 months
granules prepared with aluminum
from cereals or foil
legumes, vegetables or Cardboard
fruit, etc. ... containers lined
with aluminum
18 months
foil packed
under vacuum
and sterilization.

N
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Metal containers
packed under
vacuum and
sterilization or
in the presence
of inert gas and
sealed
Tightly sealed
metallic
Baby foods powder containers or
18 months
based on milk packed under
vacuum and
sterilized
Glass containers
Strained baby foods tightly sealed 12 months
and sterilized
Glass containers
Baby fruits juices tightly sealed 12 months
and sterilized
Carton ontainers
lined with 12 months
Baby foods in powder aluminium foils
or granules form Metallic
prepared from cereals, containers
legumes, fruits or packed under
vegetables etc….. 18 months
vacuum or in
presence of an
inert gas.

4.4.1.3 Food products which need specific temperature for keeping:

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
At temperature from
1 month
Fresh eggs Suitable 11oC to 15o C
(Table eggs) containers At temperature from 4o C
3 months
to 10o C

O
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

4.4.2 Indicative Expiration periods of food products.

4.4.2.1 Frozen Food Products: To be stored at a temperature not exceeding –18o C

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Meat and Meat Products
12 months
Beef, buffalo, mutton
Suitable from
and goat meat and
containers slaughtering
camels
date
Minced meat, burger Plastic
9 months
meat, sausages, liver containers
12 months
Chickens, rabbits,
Plastic from
turkey duck , goose
containers slaughtering
and Ostrich
date
Edible organs and
offals:
• kidneys, heart, 6 months
tongue, tripe, poultry
Suitable
giblets .... etc.
containers
• brain, testis 4 months
• liver 9 months

Suitable
Pigeons and quails 9 months From slaughtering date.
containers
Suitable
Kabbah and Kofftah 9 months
containers
Suitable
Eggs 9 months
containers

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GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Egg whites and egg Suitable
9 months
yolks containers
Fish and Shell-Fish Products
Gutted and Ungutted Suitable plastic
9 months
smoked fish. containers
Processed fish
products such as fish Suitable
12 months
fingers and fish containers
fillets…. etc.
Fish species with oil
Plastic or carton
Lean fish 12 months content in edible part less
containers
than 5%
Fish species with oil
Plastic or carton
Fatty fish 6 months content in edible part of
containers
5% or more.
Plastic or carton
Shrimp and shellfish 8 months
containers
Milk and Milk Products
Ice cream , Milk ices Suitable
12 months
and water ices containers
Suitable
Frozen yoghurt 12 months
containers
Suitable
Butter 12 months
containers
In foil plastic or
Margarine 12 months
carton
Fruits, Vegetables and Their Products
Suitable
Fruits and Fruits Puree 18 months
containers
Suitable
Fruit juices 18 months
containers
Packed in
Fried potato chips 18 months
plastic bags
Suitable
Leafy vegetables 12 months
containers

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GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Suitable
Other vegetables 18 months
containers

Concentrated fruit Suitable

24 months
juices containers

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Fungi such as Suitable
12 months
mushroom containers
Cereals, Pulses and Nuts and Their Products
Suitable
Dough 12 months
containers
Suitable
Cake 12 months
containers
Fruit muffins such as Suitable
18 months
apple muffins containers
Suitable
Muffins with cream 6 months
containers

4.4.2.2 Chilled food products : To be stored at a temperature from 00C – 50C

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Meat and Meat Products
Cured or cooked
processed meat
packed in natural or
Suitable
synthetic wraps such 6 months
containers
as luncheon, salami,
mortadella,
frankfurters …. etc.
Plastic, carton
Dry salted fish or aluminium 12 months
foil containers
Milk and Milk Products
Other non-
Processed cheese metallic 18 months
containers

T
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Suitable
Hard cheese 12 months
containers

4.4.2.3 Food products to be stored at suitable temperature in well-ventilated stores(Not

exceed 250C)

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Meat and Meat Products
Sterilized
Canned meat metallic 24 months
containers
Without
If basterma is sliced, it
wrapping such
shall be packed in
Spicy salted meat such as basterma, and
6 months suitable containers and
as basterma, salami. in suitable
kept refrigerated at 0 o C
containers for
to 5 o C.
other products
Hermetically-
Canned meat with
sealed metal 18 months
vegetable
cans
Suitable tightly-
Whole egg powder,
sealed moisture
egg white powder and 12 months
proof
egg yolk powder
containers
Sterilized
Canned fish metallic 24 months
containers
FISH, SHELL FISH
AND THEIR PRODUCTS
Hermetically
Canned shellfish sealed metal 18 months
cans
Dried fish and Suitable plastic
12 months
shellfish containers
Salted fish in brine Suitable
12 months
solution containers

U
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Milk and Milk Products

Metallic
containers
packed under 18 months
Skimmed dried milk inert gas or
under vacuum
Moisture-tight
12 months
containers
Metallic
containers
packed under 18 months
inert gas or
Full cream dried milk under vacuum
Moisture-tight
sealed plastic or
carton 12 months
containers
Non-metallic
Sterilized milk 6 months
containers
Metallic
Evaporated milk 12 months
containers
Metallic
12 months
containers
Sweetened condensed Tightly sealed
milk carton
containers lined 6 months Packed under aseptic
with aluminium conditions
foil
Metallic
Flavoured sterilized 12 months
containers
milk
Other containers 6 months
Whipping cream
Suitable tightly-
sealed moisture 18 months
powder
proof containers

Suitable tightly
Cheeses packed in
metallic or
brine solution such as
plastic sealed 12 months
Aldumiaty, Alakkawy,
moisture proof
Alnabolsy .... etc.
containers


GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Hermetically
Canned butter sealed metal 15 months
cans
Tightly-sealed It is not permissible to
Naural Ghee suitable 12 months package in PVC
containers containers
Metallic
Processed cheese 18 months
containers
Suitable tightly
Ice cream powder sealed, moisture 18 months
proof containers
Hermetically
sealed metal 18 months
cans
Cream Tightly sealed
carton
Packed under aspetic
containers 6 months
conditions.
linned with
aluminium foil
Tightly sealed
carton, coated
UHT Milk containers lined 4 months
with aluminium
foil
Fruits, Vegetables and Their Products
Metallic
Canned vegetables 18 months
containers
and canned fruits
Glass containers 24 months
Suitable
Dried fruit juices 18 months
containers
Metallic or
24 months
glass containers
Jam, Jellies and Tightly sealed
Marmalades plastic or
12 months
aluminium foil
containers

9
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Plastic bags 6 months
Aluminium
foils bags or
nitrogen
Fried potato chips and atmosphere in
corn puffs carton lined 9 months
with tin foils
containers or
in metallic
containers
Dried fruits such as
Carton or plastic
figs, raisins, prunes, 12 months
containers
apricots, etc
Hot sauces all types Glass containers 24 months
Tightly sealed
glass 18 months
containers
Metallic
containers
12 months
lined with
Pickles
plastic
Plastic
containers or
plastic bags in 12 months
well sealed
tinplate cans
Metallic
12 months
Spiced tomato sauce containers
Glass containers 18 months

J
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Metallic
12 months
containers
Tomato sauce (tomato
Glass containers 18 months
paste) and tomato
puree (pulp) and Carton
ketchup containers Packed under aseptic
12 months
linned with conditions
aluminium foil
Hot sauce (chilli Suitable
24 months
sauce) containers
Tightly-sealed
Table olive preserved 18 months
glass containers
in brine solution or by
sterilization and heat Tightly-sealed
treated metal or plastic 12 months
containers
Tightly-sealed
metal, glass or
Mustard salad 12 months
plastic
containers
Hermetically
sealed metal 18 months
Fungi such as containers
mushroom
Tightly sealed
24 months
glass containers
Wrapped in
Dried apricot past
plastic or 12 months
(Kamaruldin)
cellophane
Metal cans or
carton
containers
linned with
Fried fruit chips such aluminium foil,
9 months
as apples, pears, peach packed under
with different flavours vacuum or in
the presence of
an inert gas such
as nitrogen

Plastic bags 6 months

K
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
The statement “For
Canned fruit pulp and
Tightly sealed manufacturing purposes,
canned concentrated
metal or plastic 15 months not for direct
fruit and vegetable
containers consumption” shall be
juices
declared on the label
Vegetable fats, Oils and Their Products
Vegetable oil and
hydrogenated
It is not permissible to
vegetable oils and Plastic
12 months package in PVC
their derivatives such containers
containers
as palm olean and
styrene
VEGETABLE Metallic
18 months
GHEE containers
Metallic
Margarine 12 months
containers
Cereals, Pulses and Nuts and Their Products
Packed in
metallic or
aluminium foils
Ground roasted coffee containers under 18 months
vacuum or in
the presence of
an inert gas
Metallic or glass
containers or
Moisture content shall
Instant coffee Aluminium foils 24 months not exceed 4% by mass
or special paper
containers
Carton
containers or
wrapped in
special paper 9 months
Sweetened or salted or cellophane
biscuits or aluminium
foils

Metallic cans 12 months

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GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Metallic
12 months
containers
Stuffed or covered Carton, plastic,
biscuits cellophane or
9 months
aluminium foil
containers
Tightly-sealed
24 months
metal cans
Oat flakes
Other containers 12 months

Paper containers
Cake mixes or aluminium 18 months
foils
Tightly-sealed
Canned pulses such as 24 months
glass containers
chick pea, chick pea
with tehena and foul Hermetically
medames …. etc. sealed metal 18 months
containers
Metal cans or
aluminium foil
bags, packed
18 months
under vacuum
or in nitrogen
Shelled roasted nuts, atmosphere
salted or sweetened Metal cans or
aluminium foil 12 months
bags

Plastic bags 6 months

Metal cans or
Shelled roasted nuts aluminium foil 18 months
coated with a layer of bags
hard candy
Plastic bags 12 months

O
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period

Cloth bags 6 months

Temperature not
Flour exceeding 21oC in well-
Packed in paper
12 months ventilated stores far from
or plastic bags
moisture and
contamination sources
Pulses powder such as
Suitable
chick pea powder
moisture proof 12 months
dried ground flafell
containers
(Taamia)
Peanut butter Tightly-sealed
glass or plastic 12 months
containers
Carton or plastic
Starch, all types 24 months
containers
Breakfast cereals such Carton
as corn, wheat, rice containers or 12 months
flakes, etc. aluminium foils
Packed in metal
or aluminium
foil containers
under vacuum
18 months
or in the
Ground roasted coffee presence of an
with cardamun inert gas such as
(Arabic coffee) nitrogen
Aluminium foils
or special
12 months
moisture proof
paper containers
Packed in
cardboard
Macaroni 24 months
containers or
plastic bags

Q
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period

Water and Beverages

Hermetically
9 months
seald metal cans
Malt beverage
Tightly sealed
12 months
glass containers
Natural concentrated Suitable
24 months
fruit drinks (squash) containers
Artificial,
Suitable
concentrated fruit 18 months
containers
drinks
Plastic or carton
containers Packed under aseptic
9 months
Artificial drinks with linned with conditions
natural or aluminium foil
artificial flavours Tightly-sealed
metal or glass 12 months
containers
- Metallic
9 months
containers
Carbonated beverages
- Glass
12 months
containers
Non-carbonated Tightly-sealed
6 months
beverages plastic bottles
Rose water, flower Tightly-sealed
water 12 months
glass containers
Carbonated natural Tightly-sealed
24 months
mineral water glass containers

R
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Other Different Products

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Suitable vacuum
packed (metal
or carton linned
Dried baker’s yeast 18 months
with aluminium
foil or plastic)
containers
Suitable
Baking powder moisture proof 12 months
containers
Suitable
Custard powder moisture proof 18 months
containers
Suitable
Cream caramel
moisture proof 18 months
powder
containers
Suitable
Muhallabia powder moisture proof 18 months
containers
Suitable
Dumpling powder moisture proof 18 months
containers
Suitable
moisture proof,
Vanilla powder 24 months
air-tight
containers
Food colours and Suitable
flavours moisture proof 24 months
powder containers
Suitable
Chewing gum moisture proof 18 months
containers
Suitable
Coffee mate moisture proof 18 months
containers

Packaged in tea bags Textile bags 18 months

T
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Cardboard
containers lined
Soy milk 18 months
with aluminum
foil
Nutritive drinks Tightly-sealed
powder such as that metal or
containing sugars, aluminium foil
18 months
milk solids, flour, containers,
malt, cacao powder, packed under
calcium carbonate, vacuum
bicarbonate,
Other moisture
different flavours ….. 12 months
proof containers
etc.
Artificial beverage Suitable
18 months
powder containers

Type of Expiration
Product Notes
Packaging Period
Metallic, glass
or aluminium
foils
containers
24 months
packed under
vacuum or in
Cocoa powder the presence
of an inert gas
Other
containers
12 months
such as paper
or plastic
Carton or plastic
Jelly powder 18 months
containers
Suitable
Plain hard candy 24 months
containers
Enriched fortified hard Suitable
12 months
candy containers
Carton plastic
Soup powders or aluminium 18 months
foils containers
Soup, partially Carton plastic
dehydrated in cubic or aluminium 12 months
form, etc. foils containers

9U
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

Carton or plastic
Brown sugar 18 months
bags
Metallic or
plastic 12 months
containers
Halawa Teheniah
Wrapped in
paper or 6 months
aluminium foils
Suitable
Tehena 9 months
containers
Glass or
Mayonnaise salad metallic 12 months
containers

Product Type of Expiration Notes

Packaging Period
Packed in
carton,
All types of chocolate aluminium foils 12 months
or plastic
containers

4.5 Food products exempted from indication of expiration date:

– Edible salt.
– White sugar.
_ Honey
– Dry and dried legumes, uncooked and un-canned such as peas, kidney bean, chick
peas, broad beans, Egyptian beans, lentils, etc;
– Dried vegetables; medical plants and herbs, anise, camomile, clove, saffron,
fenugreek, etc;
– Spices and condiments.
– Tea.
– Rice.
– Vinegar.
Fresh fruits and vegetables, including potatoes which have not been peeled, cut or
similarly treated.

9
GSO STANDARD GSO 150/2007

ANNEX

 Manufacturers producing food products shall specify the actual expiry

period for their product, as regards the optional expiry period mentioned
in this standard.
 Any kind of the food packages conforming to Gulf standards may be used,
provided that they are free from any damage (cut, destroyed).
 Products that are not included among mandatory expiry period lists may
be listed within the optional expiry period, unless they are perishables in
which case their expiry period shall be specified by consultation with GS
depending on scientific bases for determining the expiry periods and
obtaining GS’s consent.
 The expiry period for processed or repackaged products from materials of
limited expiry period without being subjected to any thermal procession
shall not exceed the remaining expiry period of the materials from which
they are prepared.

99