Access Food Verification & Auditing Limited provides practical shelf-life testing support for New Zealand food businesses.
Shelf life is important because it helps determine how long a food product can remain safe and suitable under defined storage conditions. It also supports product labelling, date marking, storage instructions, customer requirements, product quality and food safety decisions.
We help businesses plan shelf-life studies, review product risks, coordinate laboratory testing where required, review results and prepare suitable shelf-life documentation.
This service covers planning, coordination and support. Laboratory testing where required is carried out by accredited third-party laboratories.
Who This Service Is For
This service is suitable for food manufacturers, food brands and start-ups, new product developers, food importers and exporters, chilled and frozen food businesses, ready-to-eat food businesses, bakery and snack businesses, sauce, dressing and condiment manufacturers, and businesses changing packaging, process or formulation.
It is also suitable for businesses receiving shelf-life or spoilage complaints, businesses preparing product labels, and businesses needing evidence to support date marking or storage instructions.
What We Can Help With
- Shelf-life study planning support
- Sampling plan development
- Testing schedule support
- Product risk review
- Storage condition review
- Packaging and process review
- Coordination with accredited laboratories where testing is required
- Microbiological testing coordination, where applicable
- Quality testing coordination, where applicable
- Review and interpretation of laboratory results
- Date marking support — use-by vs best-before decision support
- Storage instruction review
- Shelf-life documentation and report support
- Shelf-life review before product launch
- Shelf-life review after formulation, packaging or process changes
Use-By and Best-Before — What Is the Difference?
Date marking must be suitable for the product and the risk.
The correct choice depends on product risk, food safety hazards, ingredients, process, packaging and supporting evidence.
When Should Shelf-Life Testing Be Considered?
- New food product launches
- Product reformulation or ingredient changes
- Packaging changes
- Process changes or new equipment
- Storage or distribution changes
- Recurring product quality complaints or spoilage issues
- Customer or retailer shelf-life requirements
- Extending existing shelf-life claims
- Audit findings related to shelf life or date marking
Benefits of Shelf-Life Testing Support
- Plan shelf-life studies properly
- Support product launch decisions
- Reduce product spoilage risks
- Support use-by or best-before decisions
- Improve label storage instructions
- Understand laboratory results
- Prepare records for audits or customers
- Identify whether product changes affect shelf life
- Reduce customer complaints linked to shelf life
Our Process
Initial Discussion
We discuss your product, process, packaging, proposed shelf life, storage conditions and reason for the shelf-life review.
Product and Risk Review
We review product information, ingredients, process, packaging and food safety or quality risks relevant to shelf life.
Shelf-Life Study Plan
We help develop a practical shelf-life study plan, including sample points, storage conditions and testing considerations.
Laboratory Coordination
Where testing is required, we can help coordinate sample submission with a suitable laboratory.
Result Review
We review laboratory results and help the business understand what the results may indicate for shelf life decisions.
Documentation Support
We help prepare a shelf-life summary, result summary or supporting documentation for business records, audits or customers.
Practical Recommendations
We provide practical recommendations on next steps — further testing, packaging review, storage instruction changes or product issue investigation.
Need Help Planning Shelf-Life Testing or Reviewing Shelf-Life Evidence?
Contact us today for free initial guidance. We can help you understand what information, testing or documentation may be needed for your food product.
This page provides general information only. Requirements can vary depending on your specific situation, product, business activities and applicable regulatory requirements. Contact us for guidance specific to your situation.