Deciphering Snus Best By/Expiration Dates

[tom502]

I'm irky about this, but it's not an "expiration date", like milk, it's a "best before" date, and I think applies to when you 1st get it and open/use it. Frozen it lasts near forever, refridged, close to it.

[Veganpunk]

It will be a little dry and hard, but once it gets wet in your mouth, it's the same snus you know and love!

[RobsanX]

I find that older snus gets a stale tobacco flavor that overpowers, but it is not dangerous to use.

[skruf_mcgruff]

I'm irky about this, but it's not an "expiration date", like milk, it's a "best before" date, and I think applies to when you 1st get it and open/use it. Frozen it lasts near forever, refridged, close to it.

Thank you for posting this, and yeah by not opening it the freshness is extended a lot. After a year the tobacco will get hard but it is still very snusable.

[bsd777]

Best before date question from a new snuser

I just received my first ever order of snus, the order came from Getsnus and I am generally pleased. They had good prices and shipped pretty quickly. I'm really enjoying my first pris of Grov los. As an American snuff user with a preference for Copenhagen, I find it very much my style. Nice flavor, good strength and a nice tingle. And no mudslides yet. I think I can get used to not spitting. My only concern, is the best by date on 4 of the 9 cans i received is Jan 2010. Obviously they can be much fresher, because one can has a best by date of June 2010. How important are the dates and is it common to receive stuff with "best by" dates only 4-5 weeks out? The Grov los that I'm using now has a best by date of Jan 4, 2010 and it seems very fresh, but I haven't compared it to the June 2010 stuff yet. Are some vendors better than others about sending out fresh stuff?
TIA

[lxskllr]

Dates aren't important. I have stuff in the freezer that's 2 years old, and it's still fine. I ordered expired General from Getsnus, and it was as good as the freshest snus. The only time I'd care is if I bought a "new" can, and it was months past the expiration. I'd still be interested in buying it, but the price should reflect it's age also.

[skruf_mcgruff]

I still use cans of portions from summer 2008, just keep them in the fridge or freezer, and don't worry too much. It is a best by or estimated freshness date, that's all.

[elmos]

Best By Date

I have given this a lot of thought. I used to dip copenhagen. If the can date was over two weeks old, I did not buy it. I Followed this rule for two reasons. First, After two weeks, I felt no buzz at all. second, A guy I spoke with who worked at the factory told me After that time period the strength factor starts going down. I do snuss or dip for the nicotine. Since those begining days, I have learned Copenhagens date is when they believe it will arrive at that particular store or area. (even though the can says MADE ON) Recently I received a roll of Odens. The Best before date was a month away. In my book thats a crappy sales practice. If they say the snus is good for a year, why should I have to settle for something thats already eleven months old? I know people say they have put it in the freezer and its just as good. In some cases aged tobacco can be good (or different) Aged pipe tobacco, However its in an airtight tin. Aged cigars, kept at the right humidity. I have had nasal snuff that was two weeks old, and the same snuff three months old. Trust me, there is a difference. Look, When I shell out fifty bucks I want fresh. I don't care if its milk, meat, fowl, etc. You pay for a product, you expect certain things.
The other point is, where was it for the last eleven months? I don't mean to be picky, I am just sick of settling. I love snuss. I just believe I am keeping my end of the bargain, now you keep up yours. :twisted:

[TBD]

Getsnus seems to always be close on the best by dates. My orders from Swedish sources are always fresher. In some cases months fresher. I don't worry about it to much, unless it's a stocking up order that may be in cold storage for 6 months or so.

[bsd777]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I agree with elmos and also wonder where it been for 9 months. It stands to reason that a really good vendor will send fresh stuff. Thanks for the tip TBD. I'm also interested in hearing which vendors are better or worse about sending fresher product. BTW - I know I'll never find it again, but I remember reading a study that found the TSNAs increased with age. I wonder how much freezing/refrigerating helps with this? A final question, is it better to freeze or refrigerate? The cans say something about 45 degree Fahrenheit. Sounds more like refrigerator temps to me.

[lxskllr]

TSNA increase in snus is negligible, even stored at room temperature. I freeze for long term storage, and refrigerate my in use snus.

[TBD]

bsd777, Northerner, Buysnus, Snuscentral are the ones I spend money with and all seem about equal. It's nice to get a can of snus with a date 5-6 months out.

[sgreger1]

I store mine at room temperature and still occasionally go back to an old can I didn't use from 2 months ago when I get low. Before dates are completely irrelivant

[heapbag]

Greetings to everyone,
The best before dates do seem to be a non-issue, but does anybody know what the date is set at once its shipped from the factory? i.e. Is it exactly 6 months or one year from the date of production? Does it differ if its los compared to OP's (or even white portions for that matter)?

Also, I wanted to say hi to everybody. I've been lurking around these forums long enough and I took the plunge and registered.

[MojoQuestor]

Hello heapbag,

I hope someone who knows the answers to that posts. I'd like to know, too.