Calcium Expiration Date

[shakey]

I noticed that my Rep-Cal Calcium powder has an expiration date on the back. Is this Rep-Cal's way of getting me to buy more calcium when my container is still half full or does the powder actually degrade over time? Thanks for your replies!

 

[sirenique]

If you're using the kind that is only calcium and does not have any vitamins in it, a shelf life of 5 years is totally fine -- that's how long we keep calcium carbonate on our shelves in my biochem lab before buying a new product, and I work with animals daily. Technically after 5 years you wouldn't have to get rid of it, but since you work with animals, it's not worth taking a chance of something being wrong with it (e.g. germs lurking -- anything that has been opened is subjected to them over time) If you are using the kind with vitamin supplements mixed in, I would stick to the recommended expiration, as vitamins can either be included in a metabolically active form, or a pre-metabolic form, and typically have lower shelf life.