Our Methodology

At Food Fresh Wiki, transparency is key. We want you to understand exactly how we determine the shelf life estimates and storage advice you see on our site. Our approach combines authoritative data with a "safety-first" philosophy.

1. Data Aggregation

Our baseline data comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) FoodKeeper database. This provides scientifically verified storage times for hundreds of food items. We supplement this with:

  • FDA Food Code guidelines for commercial food safety.
  • Manufacturer recommendations for specific processed foods.
  • Academic research from university food science extension programs.

2. The "Safety Margin" Adjustment

Official guidelines often provide a range (e.g., "3 to 5 days"). In our "Freshness Calculator," we typically present a conservative estimate.

For example, if the USDA states that cooked chicken lasts 3-4 days in the fridge, our algorithm may flag the item as "Risk High" after day 3. We believe it is better to be cautious with food safety than to risk illness.

3. Storage Conditions Assumption

All our estimates assume optimal storage conditions:

  • Refrigerator: At or below 40°F (4°C).
  • Freezer: At or below 0°F (-18°C).
  • Pantry: Cool, dry, and away from direct sunlight (approx. 50°F - 70°F).

If your storage conditions vary (e.g., a warm garage pantry or a fridge that isn't cold enough), shelf life will be significantly reduced.

4. Verification Process

How We Verify Data: Our automated systems regularly sync with the USDA FoodKeeper database to ensure our baseline data matches the latest government standards.

While we strive for 100% accuracy through this automated synchronization, discrepancies may occur due to data format changes or specific nuances in food categories. If you find an error, please report it to us so we can investigate and update our records.

5. User Feedback Loop

We take community feedback seriously. If users consistently report that a specific brand of milk spoils faster than our general estimate, we investigate and may add a specific note or adjustment for that category.