Many products sold in the market are packed and labelled. These labels provide important information such as the manufacturing date and the “best before” or expiry date. This activity helps us read the labels on packaged food items and understand their shelf lives
Preservation of Food Activity 5.2 Solutions
Aim
To observe the labels of packed food items and
identify their shelf life or best-before date
Materials Required
1. Three
packed food items (biscuits, chips, jam, noodles, etc)
2. Notebook
3. Pen
Procedure
· We
collect three packed food items available at home.
· We
carefully read the labels printed on the packets.
· We
look for information such as “best before” or “expiry date”.
· We
note the shelf life mentioned on the label.
· We
record the information in the table.
Observation
|
S.N. |
Items |
Best
before |
|
1 |
Biscuits |
Best before 6
months from the manufacturing date |
|
2 |
Potato chips |
Best before 4
months from the manufacturing date |
|
3 |
Fruit jam |
Best before 12
months from the manufacturing date |
(The items and time may vary depending on the products
available at home)
Explanation
Shelf life is the period during which a food item remains
safe and suitable for consumption when stored properly. Food manufacturers place a “best before” or “expiry date” on packaged food products to inform consumers how long the product can maintain its quality and safety.
Different foods have different shelf lives depending
on their ingredients, moisture content and method of preservation.
Conclusion
This activity explains that packaged food items contain
labels that provide important information about their shelf life. The “best
before” and “expiry date” help us ensure that the food we consume is safe and fresh.
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. The term “ shelf life” of food items means
(a) Time taken to cook food
(b) Time for which food remains safe for consumption
(c) The time food is kept on the shelf at shop
(d) Time taken to pack food
Correct answer – (b) - Time for which food remains
safe for consumption
Q2. Which words are commonly written on packaged food labels to indicate shelf life?
(a) Use anytime
(b) Fresh food
(c) Best before/expiry date
(d) Ready to eat
Correct answer - (c) Best
before/expiry date
Q3. “The best before” date tells us
(a) Price of the product
(b) Weight of the product
(c) Period up to which food maintains quality
(d) Ingredients used
Correct answer - (c) Period up to which food maintains quality
Q4. The shelf life of food depends mainly on
(a) Colour of the packet
(b) Moisture and method of preservation
(c) Brand name
(d) Size of packet
Correct answer - (b) Moisture
and method of preservation
Q5. Which of the following food items usually has a longer shelf life?
(a) Bread
(b) Milk
(c) Jam
(d) Cut fruits
Correct answer - (c) Jam
Q6. Why is shelf life mentioned on food packets?
(a) For advertisement
(b) To inform consumers about the safe consumption period
(c) To increase weight
(d) To decorate the packet
Correct answer - (b) To
inform consumers about the safe consumption period
Q7. Eating food after the expiry date may
(a) Improve taste
(b) Be unsafe and harmful
(c) Increase freshness
(d) Have no effect
Correct answer - (b) Be
unsafe and harmful
Q8. Which of the following is most likely to have a short shelf life?
(a) Biscuits
(b) Chips
(c) Fresh juice
(d) Pickle
Correct answer - (c) Fresh juice
Q9. Manufacturers mention shelf life based on
(a) Colour food
(b) Taste of food
(c) Storage stability of food
(d) Shape of packet
Correct answer - (c) Storage stability of food
Q10. Shelf life helps in
(a) Cooking faster
(b) Preventing food spoilage and wastage
(c) Making food sweet
(d) Changing the colour of food
Correct answer - (b) Preventing food spoilage and wastage
Q11. Which information is NOT related to shelf life?
(a) Manufacturing date
(b) Bes before date
(c) Price of product
(d) Expiry date
Correct answer - (c) Price
of product
Q12. Packed chips generally show a shelf life of
(a) 1-2 days
(b) 3-4 months
(c) 2 years
(d) 10 years
Correct answers - (b) 3-4
months
Q13. The shelf life of jam is usually longer because
(a) It is colourful
(b) It contains high sugar
(c) It is liquid
(d) It is kept in a bottle
Correct answer - (b) It
contains high sugar
Q14. Which of the following should be checked before buying packaged food?
(a) Colour of wrapper
(b) Design of packet
(c) Best before/expiry date
(d) Size of packet
Correct answer - (c) Best before/expiry date
Q15. Shelf life is related to
(a) Freshness and safety of food
(b) Brand popularity
(c) Advertisement
(d) Taste only
Correct answer - (a) Freshness
and safety of food
Q16. Biscuits have a moderate shelf life because they
(a) Contain moisture
(b) Are dry and low in moisture
(c) Are kept open
(d) Are cooked daily
Correct answer - (b) Are
dry and low in moisture
Q17. Which label term is similar in meaning to shelf life?
(a) Net weight
(b) Batch number
(c) Best before
(d) MRP
Correct answer - (c) Best
before
Q18. Activity 5.2 mainly teaches students to
(a) Cook food
(b) Observe food spoilage
(c) Read and understand food labels
(d) Grow vegetables
Correct answer - (c) Read and understand food labels
Q19. Shelf life varies from product to product because of
(a) Different packet sizes
(b) Different ingredients and preservatives method
(c) Different shops
(d) Different colours
Correct answer - (b) Different
ingredients and preservatives method
Q20. Checking shelf-life helps consumers to
(a) Buy expensive food
(b) Avoid stale and spoiled food
(c) Increase quantity
(d) Save time in the market
Correct answer- (b) Avoid stale and spoiled food
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is shelf life?
Answer – Shelf life is the time period during which
food remains safe and suitable for consumption.
Q2. What does “best before” mean?
Answer – “Best before” indicates the date until which
the food maintains its best quality when stored properly.
Q3. Why is shelf life mentioned on packaged food items?
Answer – It helps consumers know how long the food can
be safely consumed.
Q4. Can food be eaten after the best-before date?
Answer – Sometimes food may still be safe for a short
time, but its quality, taste and smell may decrease.
Q5. Why do different foods have different shelf lives?
Answer – Different food items have different amounts of
moisture, ingredients and preservation methods.
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