Shelf life of CBD gummies: Do CBD gummies expire?

Shelf life of CBD gummies: Do CBD gummies expire?

If you were to take a look inside your fridge or pantry, you’ll notice something that’s found on the label of most or all of your consumable products: an expiration date.

Now, a few of your products may only be good for a few days, and some for a couple of months.

On the other hand, there are products that can stay good for over a year. It really just depends on the product and its preservatives (if there are any).

But what about CBD?

Think about it: Like other fruits, vegetables, and herbs, hemp-derived CBD is sourced from fresh soil. Which begs the question…

Does CBD oil expire? And more importantly, do CBD gummies expire?

After all, hemp gummies are meant to be eaten, so that means they should have an expiration date, right?

That’s exactly what we’re going to explore in this article.

Let’s dive in…

Do CBD gummies expire?

Yes. Like other organic consumables, CBD gummies do eventually expire. In fact, over time, CBD gummies will become unpleasant to eat and can even lose their potency or effectiveness.

While this might seem like bad news, it’s actually a good thing.

Hear us out…

As you may know, there are a lot of shady hemp companies in the CBD industry. And these companies like to cut corners, especially when it comes to their ingredients and testing the safety and efficacy of their final products, otherwise known as third party testing.

You see, back in 2018, 52 people in Utah became dangerously ill after consuming a CBD product that was falsely labeled [¹]. As it turned out, the so-called “CBD” product they consumed was actually made from a synthetic cannabinoid called 4-cyano CUMYL-BUTINACA (4-CCB), which is known to be very toxic for humans.

So what does this mean?

Some CBD companies will utilize synthetic cannabinoids that help prolong the shelf life of their CBD products, like gummies.

What’s more, they’ll even use harmful preservatives and additives to maintain their taste and appearance.

But here’s the deal… Cannabinoids, like CBD, actually break down over time [²]. In fact, did you know that THC actually degrades into CBN after a certain amount of time [³]?

And that’s not all… As it turns out, CBG, known as “the mother of all cannabinoids”, is actually the precursor of CBD []. Which means that over time, CBG transforms into CBD and other important and beneficial cannabinoids. It really depends on the hemp strain or breed.

Now, we know this can be confusing, but the bottom line is that high quality CBD gummies are meant to expire over time. It means they are real and effective.

But proper storage of your CBD gummies can help extend their shelf life.

Shelf life of CBD gummies

The shelf life of CBD gummies is based on a few factors:

Where you purchased your CBD gummies

When you purchased your CBD gummies

What ingredients are in your CBD gummies

How often you consume your CBD gummies

How you store your CBD gummies

If you’re purchasing CBD gummies from a shady hemp brand that utilizes preservatives you didn’t even know existed, let alone know how to pronounce, then you might find that your CBD gummies will last indefinitely. This isn’t a good thing.

Remember, you want your CBD gummies to have an expiration date. If they don’t, it’s likely that they aren’t made from quality ingredients that actually benefit your body, but rather harm it in the long run.

Now, hypothetically speaking, let’s say you’ve purchased a 30-day supply of CBD gummies from a reputable brand that only uses naturally occurring preservatives.

Now let’s pretend you’ve only had your CBD gummies for a week, and you consume one gummy each day.

In this scenario, your CBD gummies will maintain their potency and freshness until you’re ready for a refill.

But here’s where things might change…

If you have a bad habit of leaving your CBD gummies in the car, or in direct sunlight, then chances are your CBD gummies may lose their effectiveness, taste, and texture. They may even melt due to the heat of the sunlight.

Now, let’s look at another scenario…

Let’s say you’ve purchased the same CBD gummies from the same reputable hemp company, but this time you only consume a gummy when you need it—maybe one CBD gummy every couple of weeks or so.

In this case, the shelf life of your CBD gummies will greatly depend on how you store them.

Which leads us to our next topic…

How to store CBD gummies

Generally speaking, all CBD gummies should be stored indoors and in a cool, dark place like a cabinet, kitchen drawer, or an out-of-reach storage shelf.

Sunlight, heat, and humidity can have a huge impact on your CBD products. As we mentioned earlier in this article, cannabinoids can degrade and transform into other cannabinoids. Which means they can lose their potency and overall effectiveness.

While we’re on the subject, did you know that regular candy gummies should also be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place? This prevents them from melting together and becoming too chewy or sticky.

By storing your CBD gummies in a cool, dark place, you can prolong their strength, taste, and texture.

Now we know what you might be thinking…

Should I store my CBD gummies in the fridge?

As tempting as that might sound, no.

Now, we’re not saying you shouldn’t store your CBD gummies in a fridge, but it’s not necessary, as it won’t extend their shelf life.

While refrigerators are cool and dark (when the door is closed), depending on the temperature of your fridge, you may find that your CBD gummies might get too cold and no longer have that fun gummy-like texture.

However, you can set your CBD gummies out for a few hours to help warm them up so they can return to their ideal texture.

That said…

What will happen if I eat expired CBD gummies?

Not much will happen if you eat expired CBD gummies, especially if you’ve purchased them from a reputable brand—and if you’ve properly stored your CBD gummies in a cool, dark place.

The most you’ll likely experience is a bitter-tasting gummy that lacks any CBD potency. This is because hemp-derived CBD degrades over time.

Just like certain fruits lose their sweetness or tanginess overtime, CBD is no different.

While we understand that sometimes misplacing your CBD gummies could be the reason you haven’t consumed them in the first place, we don’t recommend you eat expired CBD gummies.

CBD gummies typically last one to perhaps two years. Still, if you know it’s been over a year since your purchased your CBD gummies, we recommend you do the following:

Give your gummies a good smell test, and if they have a noticeably rancid smell, don’t eat them.

Also, if you notice the gummies are hard or crumbling apart, don’t eat them.

The ingredients found in some CBD gummies could make you sick, although it’s not likely.

The best option is to purchase and consume new CBD gummies from a reputable hemp brand.

Does CBD expire? The bottom line

The truth is, all hemp-derived CBD products do inevitably expire, and that’s a good thing.

But how you store your CBD gummies can have a huge impact on how long they actually stay fresh.

The truth is, high quality CBD gummies can last up to a year, or perhaps two. And in order to receive that length of time, you’ll need to be mindful of only storing your CBD gummies in a cool, dark place.

That said, if you’re looking for CBD gummies that are truly effective, then steer clear from companies that make false medical claims and suggest that their CBD gummies can last over two years. That’s just not realistic or healthy.

We recommend you stick with reputable hemp companies that focus on third party testing, organically grown hemp, and high quality ingredients that don’t include unnecessary preservatives or additives that cause more harm than good.