Every manufactured product has a shelf-life period. The period varies from one product to another. The higher the quality of a product, the higher the shelf-life period, and the lower the quality, the shorter the lifeline period. Other factors that cause chemical reactions can also make the product expire before its stipulated time. This article highlights the factors that can make CBD oil expire earlier than the stipulated time, how you can know that your CBD oil has expired and things to avoid for your CBD oil to last longer.
Does CBD Oil Expire?
All CBD products have an expiry date. These dates invariably provide a definitive guide on when you should stop using. However, storing CBD oil determines its shelf life. When stored poorly, the product may be unsafe for consumption even before expiration.
Air, light, and heat are the biggest contributors to your CBD oil going bad. When determining the time at which the CBD oil will expire, the following factors are also considered;
Extraction Method
The extraction method used to extract the cannabinoids affects the CBD product’s shelf line. Whereas some infusions and extracts might cause degradation during a short period, others might rest and be usable indefinitely. CO2 and steam extraction prolong the shelf life because the CBD is cleaner and chemically stable. In contrast, solvent extraction introduces harmful byproducts like residues and residual solvents into CBD oil, affecting its quality and shelf life.
Ingredients
Each ingredient has its storage period. CBD should be extracted from premium, organic flowers. High-quality CBD contains a longer period than CBD extracted from substandard flowers. If the oil contains additional ingredients like vitamins, terpenes, essential oils, and flavorings, they should be extracted from high-quality sources. Consumers should analyze the contents of every product and check the certificates of Analysis (COAs) to ensure there’s no mildew or significant metals.
Storage
How you store your CBD oil also significantly affects its shelf life. Storing it poorly contributes to its fast degradation. Keep it in a cool, dark place, and ensure the lid is completely sealed before you put it away. If you plan to store your CBD oil for more than a few months before using it, you can keep it in the fridge to extend the shelf-life.
Packaging
Premium quality brands use opaque bottles to shield CBD oil from light. Exposure to the UV rays of the sun and oxygen in the air can degrade CBD and reduce its potency. The packaging should protect CBD from these elements to prolong the oil’s shelf life. The bottle must be dark-colored to block UV light and airtight to prevent air from reentering the bottle.
Quality of Hemp
Hemp may be a hyperaccumulator, meaning it simply absorbs each substance from the atmosphere. If the soil is contaminated with significant metals or sprayed with pesticides, the plants can absorb them and pass them into the final product.
The CBD oil can be purified, but the process involves higher temperatures, which can compromise the cannabinoid profile. The longest-lasting CBD oils are extracted from organic hemp that has been in clean and nutrient-rich soil.
How You Can Tell If Your CBD Oil Has Gone Bad
When the CBD Oil Looks Dark & Murky
The color of CBD oil can be clear, white, dark brown, or dark green, depending on the hemp extract and carrier oil used. If the carrier oil is MCT coconut oil, it could be cloudy, especially when stored in a cool space.
When the oil is chunky or brown at room temperature, this could signify that the CBD is starting to break down. You can hold the amber bottle up to a light source and examine the liquid for inconsistencies like cloudiness at room temperature.
If the Smell and Taste changes
The taste and odor of bad CBD oil are worse than the normal flavor. If you’ve smelled and tasted the product and still aren’t sure, it’s probably good for consumption. However, if the product is murky and the smell and taste are repelling, it’s best to throw it away and purchase a new set of CBD oils.
If the CBD Oil is Ineffective
If significant amounts of CBD and other cannabinoids have been broken down by UV light or heat, the oil becomes ineffective. If your CBD oil does not yoield effects, try gradually increasing the doses. Sometimes the oils are not expired; they’re just a little weaker than before. If you have no perceivable effects even with higher doses, your CBD oil is likely to be fake or expired, even with very large doses.
How to Make Your CBD Oil Last Longer
Avoid Exposing your CBD Oil to Air
Always keep the CBD oil bottle upright, and never store it horizontally. The lesser contact the oil has with the air within the bottle, the better. Exposure to air speeds up the degradation process of CBD. Keeping the bottle in a horizontal position offers additional oil contact with the air.
Air exposure lowers the oil’s effectiveness due to oxidative stress.
Store Your CBD Oil Away from Light and Heat
Store your CBD oil in a cool, dry, and dark spot for optimum freshness and to avoid degradation. Avoid keeping your CBD oil on a shelf or close to a window that receives daylight.
You can store your product within the refrigerator to increase the shelf life. Also, wrap the dropper bottle with foil to keep your CBD oil from being lightweight. However, most CBD oils are available in dark-colored, airtight bottles.
Conclusion
CBD oil lasts for one 1to 2 years under normal conditions. However, the shelf life depends on the quality of the hemp plant used to extract the oil and the ingredients added during the manufacturing of the CBD oil. This article has also highlighted the factors that can lead to degradation of the CBD oil, including poor storage, low quality of hemp plant, low quality of ingredients, and the method of extraction.
To know whether your CBD oil has expired, always check the expiry date before purchasing, smell and taste the oil to notice any changes in odor and taste. When buying CBD oil, avoid buying cheap ones as most of them can either have been expired or are of low quality and fake products as not all companies that manufacture and sell the product are certified.
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