Can Lid Codes

New Code as of Sep 98

CODE: You’ll find 2ea 5 digit numbers on top of the can. The first number of 5 digits contains the internal code for product and batch number. The 2nd 5 digit number contains the date. The first three numbers is the day of the year. The last two digits reflect the year.

Example: 09899=98th day of the 99th year or 5 Apr 99.

SHELF LIFE: See our storage life of foods page.

Old Code Before Sep 98

Code: There's a 5 digit number on top of the can. The first two numbers are a code for the food, the 3rd number is the year and the last two numbers are the month. Example: 47210=Oct 92; 59501=Jan 95

SHELF LIFE: See our storage life of foods page.

Bluebird Orange Juice - canned (800)237-7805

CODE: Write words...

"Chain store". Under each letter, put a number...

1234567890 This deciphers the code. If the code reads ECCHO then the

date = 01/12/98.

SHELF LIFE: 2 years

American Fare Canola oil (K-mart) (800)842-7886

CODE: On a code of139C8, first 3 digits are Julian date. The C is the mfg plant. Last number is the year..

SHELF LIFE:: 1 year. If kept longer, might be okay, but check for odor Bush's Baked Beans (1-423-588-7685)

CODE will indicate the date the food was packed.

Example: 9108A (translated: September 10, 1998)

9 = month = September

10 = day = 10th

8 = year = 1998

A = plant information

SHELF LIFE: Product (unopened is good for 2 years from the packing date (i.e., September 10, 2001)

Capri Sun (800)227-7478 Capri Sun - Juice in pouches

CODE: First digit is the year (8 = 1998). Next three digits is the Julian date.

SHELF LIFE:: 18 months

Comstock Apples in can (800)270-2743

CODE: On second line, first digit is plant, middle 3 are Julian day of year. The next number is year, then 24 hour time.

SHELF LIFE:: 2-3 years

Del Monte (1-800-543-3090)

CODE will indicate date the food was packed.

Example: 8200V4120 (translated: July 19, 1998)

8 = year = 1998

200 = the 200th day in 1998 = July 19

V2140 = plant information

SHELF LIFE: Product (unopened) is good for 2 years from packing date (i.e., July 19, 2000) Dole canned juice (800)232-5942

SHELF LIFE:: 2 - 3 years

Fleischman's Yeast (800)777-4959

Date is stamped. If you use it past the stamped date, you must first "PROOF" it. Proof it by bringing water to the temperature in the instructions on the back. Stir in 1 tsp of sugar and one packet of yeast. After five minutes it should begin to bubble. At the end of 10 minutes, it should have a rounded crown of foam on it. If this happens, yeast is active. (Be sure to deduct the water from your recipe)

Freshlike (1-920-435-5300)

CODE will indicate the date the food was packed.

Example: 7M831 (translated: August 31, 1997)

7 = year = 1997

M = plant

8 = month = August

31 = day of the month = 31

SHELF LIFE: Product (unopened) is good for 2 years from the packing date (i.e., August 31, 1999)

Green Giant Vegetables (800)998-9996

CODE: First letter is year, next is month, then year.

SHELF LIFE:: Beans 2 yrs. Corn/peas 3 yrs. Mushroms-4 yr

Hershey (1-800-468-1714)

CODE will indicate expiration date.

Example: 9ID (translated: September 1999)

9 = year = 1999

I = month (A-L) = September

Joan of Arc Beans

CODE: First letter is year, next is month, then year.

SHELF LIFE:: 3 years.

Kraft Foods - Dream Whip www.kraftfoods.com

CODE: First number is year, next three numbers is Julian day of year.

SHELF LIFE:: 2 years.

Libby Vegetables (315)926-3225

CODE: 2nd digit is year, first letter is month, third digit is plant. Next 2 numbers is day of month

SHELF LIFE:: 2 years for most. Sauerkraut 18 months

Lipton Ragu pasta sauce in jar (800)328-7248

CODE: On first line the last four numbers are the Julian day and last number is year.

SHELF LIFE:: 2 years

Mariani Prunes (Sold at B.J.'s club)

CODE: First number is year, next three are Julian calendar.

SHELF LIFE:: 12 months.

Motts Apple juice & Apple Sauce in a glass jar (800)426-4891

CODE: After WA, first number is year, second two are month, next two are day.

SHELF LIFE:: One year

Nabisco Snackwells Granola Bars (800)622-4726

CODE: First number is year, next three are day.

SHELF LIFE:: 6-8 months

Nally Chili

Code: 81898 is Aug 18, 1998

Shelf Life: 24 Months from date on the can.

Nat'l Fruit Product Co. Whitehouse Apple juice (800)551-5167

CODE: First letter is plant, Next number is year, Next letter is product, Next 2 are day, then shift.

SHELF LIFE:: 2 years

Nestle Carnation or Contadina Products First letter is year, next is month, then year.

Nestle Juicy Juice (800)637-8532

CODE: First number is the year, next three are Julian calendar day SHELF LIFE:: 14 mo for most. Strawberry - 8 months

Nestle Libby Nectar juice in a can (800)637-8532

CODE: First number is the year, next three are Julian calendar day.

SHELF LIFE:: Apricot - 24 mo. Peach - 24 mo. Pear - 24 mo. Strawberry - 6 mo. Papaya - 12

mo.

Peter Pan Peanut Butter (1-800-222-7370)

CODE will indicate the date the food was packed.

Example: D87F2 (translated: July 1998)

D = plant

8 = year = 1998

7 = month = July

F2 = plant information

SHELF LIFE: Product (unopened) is good for 1 year from the packing date (i.e., July 1999) Planters Peanuts (1-800-622-4726)

CODE will indicate expiration date.

Example: 0209A4 (translated: July 27, 2000)

0 = year = 2000

209 = 209th day of 2000 = July 27

A4 = plant information

Princella (1-800-234-ALLEN)

Code will indicate the date the food was packed.

Example: 82003 (translated: July 19, 1998)

8 = year = 1998

200 = 200th day of 1998 = July 19

3 = the shift the food was packed

SHELF LIFE: Product (unopened) is good 2 years from the packing date (i.e., July 19, 2000) Proctor & Gamble Criso & Butter flavor Crisco (800)543-7276

CODE: Code on both: First number is year. Next three are Julian calendar.

SHELF LIFE:: Reg Crisco in can has indefinite shelf life. Should be used within 12 months of opening.

**Butter flavor has a shelf life of 18 months, to be used within 6-12 months of opening.

Progresso Black Beans (800)200-9377

CODE: First letter is month, Next number is year, next letter is mfg plant, next two numbers, day of month. L7N26 = 12/26/97

SHELF LIFE:: 2 years

Progresso Soups (800)200-9377

CODE: First letter is month, Next number is year, next letter is mfg plant, next two numbers, day of month. L7N26 = 12/26/97

SHELF LIFE:: 3 years

Publix Cereal, boxed. Date printed on box is "pull date"

SHELF LIFE:: 12-18 months

Publix Coffee, instant Has "best if used by" date stamped on label SHELF LIFE:: 1 year

Publix Coffee, regular brick

CODE: First 3 digits are Julian date, 4th is year.

SHELF LIFE:: 1 year

Publix Evaporated milk (800)242-1227

CODE: First digit year, next 3 is Julian date

SHELF LIFE:: 18-24 mo

Publix Jelly/Jam/Choc Syrup Has "best if used by" date stamped on label SHELF LIFE:: 1 year

Publix Nondairy Creamer Has "best if used by" date stamped on label SHELF LIFE:: 12 mo

Publix Peanut Butter Has "best if used by" date stamped on label SHELF LIFE:: 1 year

Publix Veggies in can (305)652-2411, ask for Annette Vaughn at X3870

CODE: First dig is year, 2nd is month. The mo is represented by a number from Jan to Sept. For Oct, Nov, or Dec, it is represented by a O, N, or D

SHELF LIFE:: 2 years

Skippy Peanut Butter

CODE: First digit is month, next two the day, letter is mfg plant, and last number is year.

SHELF LIFE:: 2 years

Speas Apple Juice (1-717-677-8181)

CODE:

1st line - product code

2nd line - packing information

Example: MKY17D (translated: November 17, 1997)

M = plant

K = month (A-L) = November

Y = fiscal year = 1997

L = 7/1/1998 to 6/30/1999

U = 7/1/1994 to 6/30/1995

C = 7/1/1995 to 6/30/1996

K = 7/1/1996 to 6/30/1997

Y = 7/1/1997 to 6/30/1998

(On July 1, 1999, the letter U will change to 7/1/1999 to 6/30/2000)

17 = calendar day = 17th

D = unknown

SHELF LIFE: Product (unopened) is good for 1 year from packing date (i.e., December 17, 1998)

Starkist Tuna (800)252-1587 www.starkist.com

CODE: Last letter on second row is year, with G= 1998, F=1997, E=1996. Three numbers before that are Julian calendar day

SHELF LIFE:: 4-6 years

Sweet Sue Chicken & Dumplings and Chicken Noodle (800)633-3294

CODE: On 1st line - last # is year. On 2nd line - first 2 numbers are the month, next 2 numbers are day.

SHELF LIFE:: 2 years

Uncle Ben's (1-800-548-6253)

CODE will indicate the date the food was packed.

Example: 823AB (translated: June 1, 1998)

8 = year = 1998

23 = 23rd week of 1998 = week of June 1

AB = plant information

SELF LIFE Product (unopened) is good for 2 years from the packing date (i.e., June 1, 2000)

Welches Grape Juice - Plastic bottle. (800)240-6870

CODE: First number is year, letter is manufacturing plant, next 2 numbers are day of month, next letter is month A=Jan, B=Feb, etc.

SHELF LIFE:: One year