Selling food (syrup) on ebay: When listing, a warning to make sure food is within expiration period appears, would this apply to syrup ?

[audiovideotogo]

Maple syrup to be exact.

The manager of the store where I purchases the syrup insisted the numbers on the bottom of the can ( which included a 13 ) were not an expiration date, that syrup of this type will not expire for a long time if at all. He said the numbers indicated the date the can was issued.

Yet the listing form states an expiration date should be on the item  to protect the buyer.

Was the store manager embellishing the "no expiration" claim?

[oskye · Accepted solution]

The manager was likely correct.  The date on the can indicated the date (and often the time) the product was packaged.  A Best Before or Expiry or Use By date is not required on products like syrup, honey or other items that are expected to be good for longer than 90 days.  However, many manufacturers do provide this information anyway - to reassure customer. So, you will often see Best Before dates extending out a couple of years.  I have a container of maple syrup with a BB date of 2014.  It was purchased in 2012.

For further info, see the Canadian Food Inspection Agency fact sheet:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/consumer-centre/fact-sheets/labelling-food-packaging-and-storage/da...

(excerpt)

"Foods with an anticipated shelf life greater than 90 days are not required to be labelled with a "best before" date or storage information. If manufacturers and retailers choose to provide customers with this information, they must follow the required manner of declaration, as described ..."