DecodedGuides

How long do diet powder mixes and drink mixes last?

In the pantry, diet powder mixes and drink mixes keep for 18 to 24 months from the package date. Once opened, use it within 1 to 3 months.

Pantry

18 to 24 months

from the package date

Fridge

No guideline

After opening

1 to 3 months

in the fridge unless noted

Do diet powder mixes and drink mixes go bad?

Diet powder mixes and drink mixes are shelf stable, so the pantry time is about quality rather than safety: past it, flavour and texture fade before anything becomes unsafe. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".

Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.

How to tell diet powder mixes and drink mixes have gone bad

General signs for beverages, the group USDA lists diet powder mixes and drink mixes under.

  • Fizzy drinks that have gone flat or taste metallic
  • Sour or curdled smell from opened juice or milk alternatives
  • Cloudiness or separation that will not shake back together
  • Cork pushed slightly out or wine that smells like vinegar
  • Mould ring forming at the neck of a bottle or carton

More on beverages. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.

How long do other beverages last?

Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.