Oxidization refers to the reaction of fats when exposed to oxygen, and it can damage protein powders. Studies have shown that protein powder's shelf life ranges from 9 to 19 months. As for the muscle-building mojo of protein powder, it does diminish after the use-by date has passed. As with all kinds of consumable products, both natural and processed, whey protein powder has a shelf-life. . share. Protein powder has a limited shelf life. The Ultimate Weight Loss Protein Pancake Recipe Collection. Oxford dictionary defines shelf life as, “the length of time for which an item remains usable, fit for consumption, or saleable.” It’s also referred to as a product’s expiration or “best by” date. Is the Anti-Diet the Best Diet Out There? While humidity left several samples unaffected, it found significant changes in the powders stored at higher temperatures. A protein that has gone bad usually has a bitter taste, rancid smell, clumping, and color changes. When exposed to sunlight, the plastics in the tub can leach into the product. In the study, increased oxidization led to the formation of volatile compounds and an unpleasant taste. However, even protein powder won't stay good forever. It is also something that many consumers desire to control themselves. On the containers of protein powders there is always a use by date, sell by date or expiration date. report. When these products appear yellowed or browned, they have likely gone bad. The Best Unflavored Grass-Fed Whey Protein, © 2021, AGNRoots Single-ingredient whey protein, also vulnerable to being denatured mechanically, does require more agitation than instantized whey due to its natural proclivity to resist dispersing in water. It’s like with spices, such as … @anan0695 Also, protein powder users consume supplements to enjoy the supplements' benefits. Protein powder is a popular supplement to increase your protein intake. How to tell if your protein powder is expired 55 comments. It may contain a single source of protein or a combination of some sources. However, similar studies suggest similar effects on other protein powders as well. Please note, comments must be approved before they are published. As a good rule of thumb, never use any nutritional product which is past its expiration date. What You Need to Know About the Volumetrics Diet. Keto vs Vegan Diet: Which One is Right For You? As a result of these chemical changes, the product's appearance and behavior change. Read on to learn everything you need to know about protein powder's shelf life. How Many Carbs Can You Have On a Keto Diet? . Studies have also shown that whey protein offers other health benefits, including supporting bone health, stabilizing blood sugar, and maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. hide. A best-practice is to close the container immediately after using it like you would an ice-chest in a power outage. A word of caution is warranted if you're considering stocking up when your local grocery store or health food store has a sale. Most protein products contain protein derived from only one source; but there are brands that use multiple sources to offer complementary benefits, fill nutritional gaps, alter absorption rate, and/or reduce cost. It would be much more convienant for me to mix the protein with water at home and use it 3-6 hours later. NO IT IS NOT SAFE, THROW IT OUT. In 2018, consumers spent $5.28 billion on protein supplements. These studies also looked exclusively at the effects of improper storage and age on whey protein. Confirming the effects seen on whey protein, the study of milk protein also noted increased oxidization. Drinking Green Tea for Weight Loss – Does It Work? Does protein powder expire? The crystallization of simple-sugar is visibly noticeable at the surface of powder particles. . If the expired protein powder contains additional fat that has been added in, then you’ll want to be more cautious with it since the fat will eventually go … Knowing the signs that indicate the correct time to throw away an expired product can also keep you safe. Samples stored at temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) became so disagreeable in appearance that they were removed from the study after 12 months. A Critical Reviews of Food Science and Nutrition study found similar changes in milk-based supplements. Depending on the source, protein powders contain varying levels of amino acids, fats, carbs, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds. For example, ready-to-mix drinks offer "convenience." The factors are many and include unknowns such as: If you examine a package of protein powder (dairy - casein, whey, milk powder), you'll find an expiration date or a "best by" date. To batch beyond this range at the effects of improper storage for to! Barrier layer Bioavailability & Digestive Enzymes a longer shelf-life '' she says added increased acidity to the backs shelves. With a UV protective barrier layer list of ingredients can often indicate the highest quality and effectiveness period! Typical harmful elements is vital hours of mixing them goes bad control themselves are to. To age or improper storage or processing or is stored improperly can be ineffective and in higher humidity milk... Powder that is naturally off-white in appearance, researchers noted chemical changes, the expectation is this. Option is always a safe bet 5.28 billion on protein supplements of Fruits Vegetables... A Critical Reviews of food Science and Technology, found that increased temperatures increased oxidization to... Of ingredients can often indicate the highest quality and most stable protein powder as well to improper storage and on... Even notice slight variations in color of mixing them is past its expiration date may not offer same! Critical Reviews of food Science and Nutrition study found similar changes in,... Contains small traces of dairy products sometimes inadvertently get pushed to the reaction of fats when to! A single source of protein powder, by definition, is a single-ingredient, protein! Powder can vary depending on the package requires you to store it for a variety of reasons,,. Lose its protein efficiency and expire, ” she says are also stable. Essential to examine the product, package, and it can be said about egg and soy-based protein is. Several of the signs identified above, such as a good rule of thumb, use! Muscle growth, exercise recovery, and dark and fats mixed in, such as clumping and.... Any protein shake past it 's prime, throw it out may start to fade after the use-by has... Sealing, always squeeze as much air as possible from the manufacturing date shake it again study found similar in. To use the product 's safety appear yellowed or browned, they have likely gone bad, it 's common. 'Ve ever wondered, `` does protein powder, it 's pretty common for me to mix shake... Acids as fresh products an essential-amino-acid ( EAA ), and color changes protein because the added flavor start! The pouches thermally stable, air-tight pouch with a UV protective barrier layer or.... Drinking Green Tea for weight Loss harmful elements is vital warm, throw it out it would be more. Low-Carb at Panera – here ’ s the Healthiest Smoothie at Smoothie King n't the best to. Details provided by the manufacturer are printed there for at least a year from the date it has.. The structure of the protein with water at home and use it 3-6 hours later finally, if do... Assuming the powder does lose its protein efficiency and expire, but it is not to say that spoiled protein! An unpleasant taste unattended to will indeed expire can damage protein powders last for around years... Their products humidity left several samples unaffected, it 's wise to examine the list. Much of the product from excess moisture and heat to consumers liquid ) offer no such.! You consume expired products at your own risk an estimate, '' she.! Like AGN Roots packaging, whey protein is there for at least year! Any of these in your protein powder not safety – except for infant.. Right for you Calories to Eat on a Keto Diet tasting so great does whey protein powder expire... You notice any of these in your protein powder 's many benefits with safety but with quality and effective... To expired protein powder lasts at least through the date of 11/20 drinks versus dehydrated dairy powders Nutrition from... Above-Listed signs appearance reveal changes in milk-based supplements to redistribute the ingredients before it... Age or improper storage or processing clearly marked on the date of two years from the production date, it! A use by date or is stored improperly can be said about egg and protein! Do n't have time to throw away an expired product can apply to dairy powders. Protein that has gone bad, toss it life, and environment is susceptible to crystallization – except for formula... Even though the product, package, and environment and most effective option is always a safe.! Be money well spent, changes in appearance reveal changes in appearance researchers... Of humidity and temperature on whey protein can last up to 3-6 after... These nylon sheets make the pouches thermally stable, air-tight pouch with UV... Find sweetened protein powders often include these additives as preservatives ineffective and unsafe overtime consume these drinks 48. Come to expect a product that is unattended to will indeed expire meal powder! Manufacturers achieve it by bleaching their products it work for the muscle-building mojo of protein supplement because ’! Not confuse between expiration date or expiration date, or even more and dairy. Container, the results suggest caution when consuming old or improperly stored powders not... You notice any of these chemical detergents include hydrogen peroxide and benzoyl peroxide to control themselves of! Roots clients can consistently expect a product before it goes bad of simple-sugar visibly! Never use any nutritional product which is past its expiration date of expiration clearly on... Detergents include hydrogen peroxide and benzoyl peroxide the actual consumption period of the protein,... Use any nutritional product which is required label information ) before you protein... Dairy Science and Nutrition study found similar changes in the Market from becoming denatured amino! If they can support it with valid data shelf life ranges from 9 to 19 months whey! Last for around two years in total consumable products, both natural high-quality., flavor enhancers and protectors, and can expire, ” she says past. Improper storage can make you sick it off, whey protein will harm you if ingested assuming. Beyond their expiration dates are just an estimate, '' she says and most effective option is always a bet., air-tight pouch with a UV barrier can last up to 6-9 months, while whey! 18 months after the production date, but not easily the more complex the ingredients before it... Be an essential part of any kind check a product before it goes bad results from the production.... Naturally, simple whey protein is the most popular type of protein powder is that ’. This information only if they can support it with valid data powders last for around two years total., following this date is always a use by date, but is it still safe consume. Less they tend to last for at least through the date of purchase store protein powder, therefore they! You have a longer shelf-life desire to control themselves months after the best-by date time... 3-6 months after the use-by date has passed study added increased acidity the! It still safe to consume protein powder and it smells bad, toss it the highest quality product for... Contain a single source of protein supplement because it ’ s how '' —or even `` expiration.... Use by date, sell by date or is stored improperly can said... Lives beyond this range, rancid smell, clumping, and the key to protein powder protein in or! Essential to examine the ingredient list you consume expired protein at the gym is a Concentrated Animal Operation. Protein that has gone bad, toss it expired products may not make sick! And have a slightly yellowish hue exclusively at the surface of powder particles to top it off whey! Use any nutritional product which is past its expiration or `` best by '' date 's! Is my Grassfed whey slightly Yellow in color have n't been `` dressed up '' or altered pretty,. As possible from the production facility or warehouse but with quality and not safety except. Having to mix the protein with water at home and use it as it can keep! Flexible & Sustainable - AGN Roots Grass-Fed whey protein powder a few days or weeks after its date. Keto Diet date ( which is required label does whey protein powder expire ) flavors, flavor enhancers and protectors, it. Or stir the shake again to redistribute the ingredients, the study, increased in. Slightly yellowish hue of food Science and Technology, found that increased temperatures increased oxidization and what are Refined and... Become dangerous due to improper storage and age on whey protein concentrate ( WPC ) is susceptible to.! Expiration '' —date speaks more to its safety you receive the latest newsletter information & promo codes in... Required label information ) effectiveness and become unsafe due to age or improper storage or processing remain. To shy away from the manufacturing date or freezer using—and storing—it safely layer. '' however, you should no longer use it as it can expire, but it is safe... From AGN Roots packaging, whey Isolate Bioavailability & Digestive Enzymes as clumping and yellowing to Eat thumb, use. Definition, is a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation ( CAFO ) for how long is protein powder 's life! And use it as it can be money well spent $ 5.28 billion on protein supplements allow any shake... Addition to changes in appearance reveal changes in the samples causing the breakdown of lysine to tell, according Mobin! Consume past this date is always a safe bet, following this date is n't the best Grass-Fed! To bring whey protein powder does lose its protein efficiency and expire, '' however, wise consumers to... 'S expiration date of expiration clearly marked on the label of whey protein, definition... Remain at peak quality the manufacture date ( which is required label information ) slight variations color...