What must be done if a Shelf-Life item exceeds its designated expiration?

When a Shelf-Life item exceeds its designated expiration, the proper action is to dispose of it correctly. This is crucial for ensuring safety and compliance with regulations, as using products past their expiration date can pose significant health risks and potentially lead to operational failures. Disposing of expired items helps maintain inventory integrity and ensures that only safe, usable products are available.

Donating items past their expiration can jeopardize the health of recipients and might violate legal and ethical standards. Reissuing such items, even after inspection, is not advisable since the integrity of the shelf life is compromised, and there could be unforeseen risks associated with their use. Returning the item to the manufacturer is generally not a common practice for expired goods, especially if it is not within the return policy period. Therefore, the most appropriate and responsible action is to dispose of the expired items properly to protect health, safety, and compliance with applicable regulations.