Can CBD Oil Go Bad? – Why Your Tincture Could Go Bad

Bread, eggs, milk, and canned commodities all have a “use by,” “best by,” or “sell by” date on them. The expiry dates on perishables tell you how long your item will retain its flavour, freshness, and overall quality. Dates similar to this can be seen on over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and natural supplements.

When purchasing CBD oil, you should be able to see an expiration date anywhere on the label. Although the majority of high-quality CBD goods have a fairly lengthy shelf life, some circumstances may lead them to degrade sooner than planned. Whether you’re on the fence about purchasing CBD oil for the first time or have a long-forgotten tincture stored beneath your candies and pills, it’s vital to recognise the warning signs that your CBD oil has gone bad.

Why Your Tincture Could Go Bad Before Its Time 

Hemp-derived CBD oil tinctures have a somewhat predictable shelf life, much like any other plant-based oil in your pantry. However, whether your CBD oil retains its taste and general strength for six months or twenty-four months is determined by a variety of circumstances. You’ll be well on your way to buying things that are less likely to go bad before their expiry date after you grasp how the following variables may impact shelf life.

Questionable Crop Cultivation 

Industrial hemp has been demonstrated to extract heavy metals and other potentially hazardous pollutants from the soil as it grows. As a consequence, the best CBD oil is derived from non-GMO, organically grown crops. If you purchase CBD oil from a company that relies on plants grown in soil that isn’t regularly tested for heavy metals, chemical residue, and microbial contamination, your CBD oil may degrade quickly. 1

Substandard Extraction Methods 

Cannabinoid-rich extracts must be isolated from non-essential plant components after hemp harvesting. Some extraction processes are more effective than others. Although chemical solvent extraction of plant oils is far less expensive, CO2 extraction is significantly “cleaner” since the technique is far less likely to introduce potentially harmful byproducts into the plant extracts. Plant extracts polluted by ineffective extraction methods may be chemically unstable. 2

Improper Storage or Clear Glass Packaging

Even high-quality plant extracts can deteriorate quickly if they are not handled properly. CBD oil is no exception. Industrial hemp extracts should preferably be stored in dark, sealed containers at temperatures no higher than 70°F. If you purchase CBD oil from a company that allows their products to be exposed to high temperatures or sunlight at any moment throughout the extraction, product manufacture, or distribution process, your CBD oil may go bad weeks or even months before the expiration date. 3,4

Has Your CBD Oil Gone Bad? Here’s How You’ll Know

Even with occasional use, most CBD users have no problem collecting every last serving of CBD from their tincture before it expires, although it is possible. Although obsolete CBD oil is unlikely to cause serious sickness, you should replace any expired goods as soon as feasible. Because the quality of cannabinoids deteriorates with time, your CBD oil may not operate as well as it did when you first opened the bottle. You should also dispose of your oil, whether it is old or new if you see any of the following signs of a bad product.5

Your CBD Oil Has a Funky Odor

Fresh hemp extract has a distinct aroma, as do many other plant oils. Although many first-time CBD users are put off by the smell, hemp is often described as fresh and grass-like, rather than unpleasant. When hemp extract, carrier oils, or flavoring chemicals in a CBD oil tincture decay, an unpleasant odor might be released. If the odor of your CBD oil is unpleasant or skunky, it is most likely rancid.

Your Tincture Tastes Bad 

CBD oil extracted from hemp is usually described as having a natural, nutty, or grassy flavor. Even if the natural flavor of hemp isn’t your favorite, if a tincture you previously considered palatable suddenly tastes unpleasant or “odd,” stop using it. Even though your CBD oil smells OK, any significant change in flavor might suggest the presence of mold, yeast, or bacteria.

The Color or Consistency Has Changed

If you keep CBD oil in the refrigerator, your tincture may get cloudy. That’s just OK. The changes will be rectified at room temperature. However, if your oil appears dark or muddy at room temperature, it is almost probably deteriorating. Color or consistency changes should not be ignored, even if they occur months before the anticipated expiration date.

Is There Anything I Can Do to Help Keep My CBD Oil from Going Bad? 

The shelf-life of any CBD oil might vary greatly between brands. Although most oils retain their freshness and usefulness for 12-24 months, there are a few things you can do to help extend the life of your CBD oil or keep it from going bad before the expiry date on the label. Consider how the following suggestions can help to extend shelf-life when maximum longevity is required.

Keep an eye on the temperature.

If you live in a hot climate, you may store your tincture in the refrigerator, however, the ideal temperature for CBD oil is 60-70° F or room temperature. Temperatures of 90° F or higher may cause your tincture to haze. Heat may cause product deterioration if you store your CBD oil near your stove, oven, or on top of your refrigerator. Instead, move your CBD to a cooler location away from heat-producing equipment.

Keep Your (Original) Bottle Closed Tightly

Keep your CBD oil in its original (dark) glass bottle to preserve it from moisture, air, and sunlight. Water induces hydrolysis, oxygen causes oxidation, and sunlight can lessen a substance’s potency. Neither interaction will be beneficial to you. Although there is little you can do to totally eliminate exposure to air or humidity, double-checking that your container is securely closed after each use can help keep your CBD oil from going bad before its time.

Stick to products that have been tested by a third party.

The shelf life of CBD oil is directly related to the overall product quality. One of the simplest ways to ensure you’re getting high-quality CBD oil is to stick with well-established companies that rely on third-party testing to ensure their CBD products are pure, powerful, and safe for their intended purpose. Sticking with a company that routinely tests its products reduces the possibility of receiving a CBD oil tincture that goes bad before you’ve completed the bottle.

Visit Our Store When Shelf-Life and Expiration Dates Are Important.

Any CBD company can claim that its products have been independently examined by a third party. These assertions are backed up by reliable evidence from the most well-known companies. CBDistillery® was among the first (if not the first) to release third-party test results for each product we sell, known as the Certificate of Analysis (COA). What does this get to do with expiration dates or shelf-life? There is a lot more than the majority of people realize.

Each product we sell has been assessed by an unbiased, independent lab, as evidenced by the COA on our product pages. Not only will you be able to use the test results to check that your CBD oil is as potent as we claim, but you’ll also be aware that every product is tested for signs of microbiological contamination, yeast, fungus, mold, and bacteria, all of which might impair product quality. The top of the Certificate of Analysis also includes a batch and sample number, collection date, and report date.

Those deadlines are crucial. Scanning the QR code on every CBDistillery® label will link you to the third-party test results for the specific product you’re holding. Even if the expiration date on your bottle has faded over time, you’ll still be able to see when your CBD oil tincture was initially tested for purity and potency.

Sources:

1. ACS Labs. (2020) Mycotoxins.

2. CFAH. N Julia. (2021 July 29) Does CBD Oil Expire? Things to Know About Hemp Oil Shelf Life.

3. Healthline. A Santos-Longhurst. (2021 February 12). Yes, CBD Oil Expires – Here’s How to Check Yours.

4. Cannabiz Daily. R Kavanaugh. (2019 January 14) Why You Should Store Cannabis Oils In Dark Bottles.

5. CBD Facilitator. J Murdoch. (2021) Does CBD Oil Go Bad? – How to Maximize Shelf Life.

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