Quality & Sensory
Shelf life
The period during which a food remains safe and retains its intended sensory, chemical, physical and microbiological characteristics under stated storage conditions.
The date printed on every packaged food label, based on real storage testing rather than a guess.
Related terms
Accelerated shelf life testing
Quality & SensoryEstimating shelf life by storing product under elevated stress, usually temperature, and extrapolating using a kinetic model such as Q10 or Arrhenius.
Water activity
Food ChemistryThe ratio of the vapour pressure of water in a food to the vapour pressure of pure water at the same temperature. It measures how much water is available for microbial growth and chemical reactions — not how much water is present.
Know the terms? Put them to the test.
Definitions only get you so far. The free General Aptitude test shows you how you handle the real thing under a clock.
Start the free test