We sell entire trailer loads of soda (by the case) each week. Given this high rate of turnover, we rarely have issues with product going out of date in our warehouse (the occasional exception being specialty products that are in lower demand, particularly diet products in bottles, which carry a much shorter life span than can sodas). However, we often field questions about product shelf life from concerned customers, particularly due to the complex ways in which some manufacturers choose to stamp their products. Unfortunately, there is no consistent standard. Some manufacturers stamp a sell-by date, while others stamp a born-on date. Some expiration dates are easy to read, while others appear as complex codes that need to be deciphered and can easily be misinterpreted.
The codes are subject to change, but here is our latest attempt at a summary guide:
7-Up/A&W Cans: Manufacture Date
7-Up and A&W brand cans are stamped (typically on the bottom of the can) with a manufacture date in MM DDD Y format. Shelf life is typically considered to be 9 months for regular sodas and 3 months for diet sodas.
A&W Manufacture Code
Canada Dry Cans: Manufacture Date
Canada Dry brand cans are stamped (typically on the bottom of the can) with a manufacture date in MMDDDY format. A second line of codes identifies the Time and Plant Code. Shelf life is typically considered to be 39 weeks for regular sodas and 13 weeks for diet sodas.
Canada Dry Can Manufacture Code
Coca-Cola Cans: Sell-By Date
Coca-Cola brand cans are stamped (typically on the bottom of the can) with a sell-by date in MMMDDYY format. There are additional codes included with the stamp that have nothing to do with dating.
Coca-Cola Can Expiration Code
Coca-Cola Bottles: Sell-By Date
Coca-Cola brand bottles are stamped (typically on the cap) with a sell-by date in MMDDYY format, and stamped (typically on the neck) with a sell-by date in MMMDDYY format. There may be additional codes included with the stamp on the neck that have nothing to do with dating.
Coca-Cola Bottole Expiration Code
Pepsi Cans: Sell-By Date
Pepsi brand cans are stamped (typically on the bottom of the can) with a sell-by date in MMM DD YY format. There are additional codes included with the stamp that have nothing to do with dating.
Pepsi Soda Can Expiration Code
Pepsi Bottles: Sell-By Date
Pepsi brand bottles are stamped (typically on the cap) with a sell-by date in MMMDDYY format, and stamped (typically on the neck) with a sell-by date in MMM DD YY format. There may be additional codes stamped on the neck that have nothing to do with dating.
Pepsi Soda Bottle Expiration Code
Also see our previous post: How To Read Sunkist Soda’s Expiration Code
Of course, Coffee Distributing Corp. carries dozens of sodas from a variety of manufacturers in a multitude of package sizes, and we can special-order just about anything that we don’t typically stock. It is impossible to provide a comprehensive listing of beverages, nor can we guarantee that manufacturers won’t change their dating conventions. You are always welcome to contact our Customer Service Department with questions. If we deliver outdated product in error, our policy is to take it back and offer a complete refund.
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