The storage life of processed foods is influenced by many factors.
Some foods spoil because microbes can still grow.
Water uptake or loss can affect texture and other food attributes. The environmental conditions under which food is stored also influence storage life. Date marking Most packaged foods, manufactured in Australia or imported, are labelled with a date. The use of date marking systems is governed by the food regulations. Foods with a storage life of two years or longer, such as many canned foods, are exempt from date marking.