Yes, just like any edible CBD gummies also have an expiration date. The shelf life of CBD gummies is usually between 1-2 years. The ingredients used, preservatives, manufacturing process, and storing method can all have an impact on this duration.
It’s essential to understand that taking expired gummies can cause unexpected side effects like digestion issues, stomach pain, or allergic reactions. Plus, the healing power of CBD gummies also goes down the drain with time, and past expiry they may end up becoming just sweet candies with a very weakened cannabinoid profile.
So if you are planning to grab the strongest gummies on the upcoming Christmas sale, it’s better to learn about proper storage techniques and ways to identify a soiled bottle beforehand. Let’s dig in !!
What are CBD gummies?
CBD gummies are soft chewy candies that come infused with cannabinoid-rich extract. This extract is derived from ariel parts of the hemp plant and is full of compounds like Cannabidiol ( CBD), CBN ( Cannabinol ), CBG ( Cannabigerol ) …, phytonutrients, and flavonoids.
Full-spectrum gummies also have trace amounts of THC (intoxicating cannabinoid ), as per laws it cannot be more than 0.3 %. However, users have reported that sometimes due to the presence of THC, full-spectrum gummies provide a more potent entourage effect as compared to THC-free gummies and CBD isolates.
They usually come in delicious flavors like berry blast, strawberry, and more to mask hemp’s odd earthy taste. The chewiness and texture come from pectin or agar. Cannabinoids create a balance in your body by improving the efficiency of the body’s endocannabinoid system.
As a result, within an hour of taking CBD gummies your body and mind start to calm down, your anxiety, stress, and pain slowly slip away and your mood gets better.
How to tell if gummies have expired?
Well, the obvious answer is to look at the expiry date on the label, but guess what smarty? Most of the time it becomes dull or vanishes completely. People sometimes forget they have gummies in the fridge for a long time, and the moisture simply dilutes the fine print.
Some people like to take them out from the company bottles and put them into a transparent airtight jar and find it confusing to tell whether they are fresh or not after some time.
So if you’ve also found a gummy jar in the wild at home (pun intended) and wondering whether it’s expired or not, look out for the following things:
Check their Texture & Appearance
Fresh CBD gummies should have a consistent color, shape, and texture. If you notice any significant changes like discoloration, unusual spots, or mold, or if the gummies have become hard, sticky, or weirdly shaped, they’ve likely expired.
They may become hard due to moisture and temperature changes. Sometimes the sugar crystallization also happens past the expiry date.
Check their smell
Fresh gummies should have a pleasant, mild scent related to their flavor. If you detect any rancid, sour, or off-putting odors, this is a clear sign the gummies have gone bad. The smell changes when the ingredients start to break down or oxidize.
CBD oil can develop a distinctive, unpleasant smell when it degrades. Trust your nose and if something smells wrong, it’s best to throw the gummies away to avoid any health risks.
Reduction in Potency
CBD gummies tend to lose their effectiveness over time. If you notice the gummies don’t provide the same relief or experience as when you first purchased them, they might be past their prime.
To put it in numbers, experts believe that after a year gummies lose up to 50% of their original strength. It may not be as reliable as the above-discussed methods since our bodies also get tolerant of the compound.
What happens if I eat expired CBD gummies?
No sane person would recommend you to try out expired gummies, who knows how bad they have gone? Some expired ingredients in gummies may react badly, especially if you have a weak immune system.
However, this is the extreme or worst-case scenario. Many people believe that even if you do eat expired gummies accidentally, there won’t be much negative impact other than slight stomach pain, nausea, or something. But if they’ve developed mold?
In that case, it may lead to mycotoxin poisoning, so it’s best if you don’t act to dairy and throw expired gummies out as soon as possible.
How to Store CBD Gummies Properly?
See, there’s a lot more you can do to preserve your gummies than just noting the manufacturing and expiry date in your notes app. Storing your gummies properly can help to remain juicy, fresh, and effective and save them from going bad before time.
First, store them in an airtight container. After every use, close the lids as tightly as possible. This will prevent air and moisture from damaging gummies’ freshness and strength. Usually, companies already ship them in airtight jars, but some brands opt for ziplocks which are not really that reliable.
Next, store the bottle in a cool and dark place, don’t put it in a room or around a window from where direct sunlight comes in. Why? Because UV rays can break down cannabinoid strength and eat up your gummy potency. Lastly, consider putting this air-tight jar in a fridge or a relatively cool and dark room.
This will preserve gummies’ juiciness and texture, and will also save them from becoming dry. Lastly, put it where kids can’t reach, their bodies are not made to handle high-strength gummies and they may end up eating a few thinking that it’s just candy.
The End Note
To sum it up, Yes, CBD gummies do expire. The general life span of CBD gummies is around 1-2 years, and after that time they usually lose their potency and become uneatable.
If the expiry date has been wiped off from the back, check gummies’ texture, smell, and color, if it feels off, foul, and rancid, throw them away. Also, make sure to buy them only from reputed brands like Colorado Botanicals that use high-quality ingredients and certified manufacturing processes.
