food coloring, expiration date

[Nalega]

Does food coloring have an expiration date?

[rworange]

I thought I'd ask McCormick and got this reply ... I guess as far as flavor is concerned they were talking about the extracts ... it seems the color might change a little over time ...

Dear McCormick Consumer:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate your interest in our Assorted Food Colors and welcome the opportunity to be of assistance to you.

The McCormick Assorted Food Colors have a shelflife of 48 months from the manufacturing date. You can check the age of your spices at this link: http://www.mccormick.com/content.cfm?id=10451

The concerns about using the Assorted Food Colors beyond the "Best By" date code are flavor and/or optimum performance concerns, not health related concerns.

We invite you to join our "Friends and Flavor Club" and receive our newsletter, and personalized recipes and cooking tips. You can join by clicking on "Friends and Flavor" at www.McCormick.com.

If we can be of further assistance, please call us at 1-800-632-5847, Monday through Friday, 9:30AM to 5PM Eastern Time. If you wish to respond to this note by e-mail, please include your name and e-mail address.

We hope to have the continued pleasure of serving you.

Sincerely,

Ilene Miller
Consumer Affairs Specialist

[heidipie]

When my dad was in the army in 1952, he was fed hot dogs that had been frozen in 1941.

[Slackerchick]

I finally threw some away at my mom's house 2 years ago. It was from Safeway. The Safeway near my mom closed in about 1983!

[Nalega]

Ha... thanks, and here I am thinking that my 2 yr old package was something to worry about!

[Andiereid]

psh. nuttin' but a thang.

[Andiereid]

Nah. I used some this past spring that was dated 1995. It still worked and no one died or became violently ill. I think I might win some sort of prize for hanging on to something that long.

[heidipie]

The package of liquid colors I've got in my pantry has a sell-by date of July 1997. Am I worried? No. Am I foolish not to be? Your guess is as good as mine.