If you've finally started cleaning out your cupboard or vitamin drawer, you may find a few bottles that are past their expiration date. However, you may not have to throw them away just yet, especially if they look and smell exactly the same as when you first bought them. This is because, unlike food, vitamins usually do not become dangerous for consumption after the expiration date.
Here's everything you need to know about when your vitamins expire and how to properly dispose of them.
Do vitamins expire?
Your vitamin bottles likely have a date on them, but it's not technically an expiration date. This is because your vitamins don't expire as much as you think. Because vitamins do not become unsafe after the expiration date, the Food and Drug Administration does not even require date stamps on bottles. However, most manufacturers still do this because there comes a point when vitamins are no longer effective. This means your vitamins and minerals may not provide the full nutritional value you expect if they are past their expiration date.
Depending on your vitamins and supplements and what form they are in, they lose effectiveness at different rates. Tablets and capsules tend to remain effective longer than chewable gummy vitamins.
The best way to store vitamins is in a cool, dry place. The two worst places—and the two most common—are in the bathroom and kitchen. Both of these rooms are warm and damp, which can speed up the breakdown of vitamins. Place your vitamins in a closet or a place in your bedroom out of direct sunlight to help them last longer.
How expired are vitamins?
While expired vitamins likely won't make you sick, they won't be as effective.
While the vitamins won't expire or become unsafe, they will lose potency, meaning they won't do you any good. Manufacturers put a date on the bottle indicating when vitamins reach this point, so if the expiration date on the bottle has expired, throw them away because while they won't make you sick, they won't help you either.
Although it doesn't happen often, vitamins can become moldy or have an unpleasant odor, especially if they are not stored properly. If your vitamins are in this condition, throw them away immediately and buy a new bottle. This is a situation where your vitamins may not be safe to consume due to some contamination happening to them.
Currently, there are not a single case of “expired” vitamins becoming toxic or dangerous to people. Expired vitamins are really just a waste of time and nothing more.
How long can vitamins be used after the expiration date?
While it is possible to take expired vitamins, it will depend on how well you stored them and whether they were opened. Other factors to consider are the type of vitamin and what it is made from. For example, vitamins in chewable form tend to break down faster than vitamins in tablet or capsule form because they are more prone to absorb moisture. A good rule of thumb is if mold is present, the smell is gone, or the consistency changes, throw it out.
How to dispose of expired vitamins
Once you have determined that you have passed the point of no return with your vitamins, it is important to dispose of them safely. Simply throwing them in the trash can be risky as children or even pets may get hold of them. And while you might be tempted to flush them down the toilet, that's not a good idea since the old vitamins can still potentially contaminate the water.
The FDA recommends emptying bottled vitamins into a plastic bag and mixing them with “unwanted substances,” such as coffee grounds or cat litter. Seal the mixture in a bag and throw it in the trash.
You can also take your vitamins to a drug return center in your area if you have one. Although they are more often used for prescription drugs, you can also recycle vitamins so they can be handled safely.
Bottom line
Although vitamins may not expire, they may not work properly after a certain period of time.
Although your vitamins haven't technically expired, they will become useless after a while. Pay attention to the dates that manufacturers write on bottles so you know when vitamins and supplements will no longer help you. If you store them correctly, they will last as long as they are intended and will contribute to your overall health.
Unless you are allergic to a substance in the product you consumed, there will be no harmful effects from taking an expired product. However, its effectiveness may be reduced, so no benefits should be expected either.
Show more
Always check for signs of mold or changes in color or odor if your vitamin bottle has expired. If you notice any of these signs, it is best to safely throw away your bottle of vitamins rather than continue to use them.
Show more
