What is the shelf life of LeafSide’s meals? Do they have any preservatives?

Due to the low moisture content of our meals, and the use of 100% whole plant ingredients, LeafSide meals are shelf-stable and maintain the best taste and texture for a meal-specific 2-6 month timeframe (see back label) from its creation date, when stored in a cool, dry (non-refrigerated) place. Depending on a specific recipe’s ingredients, the timeframe varies, and is updated based on our ongoing tests of each recipe, and evolving packaging.

Typically, the limiting factor is any higher-fat ingredients used in the meal (nuts, seeds, dates, coconut, etc.). If you want to extend the storage duration, you can put your pack(s) in the fridge, just as refrigerating those higher-fat ingredients would help add several months or more of shelf life. You may even store the meals in your freezer, which is likely to add years of shelf life.

LeafSide meals contain no preservatives or additives! Many of our ingredients are shelf-stable due to a special freeze-drying process that gently removes their moisture content. Freeze-drying maximizes nutrition and keep the ingredients safe to consume, without adding any unnatural preservatives.

All LeafSide meal packs will have a “Created On” date, and also a specific time frame of 2 to 6 months after that date on the back label, to ensure you enjoy the best taste and texture possible.

See below for an example:

Another quick reminder: The best-by time frame of dried foods is very different from an expiration date; the latter is needed for high moisture, perishable products with active microbial risk. By contrast, LeafSide meals are safe to consume weeks or months past the best-by time frame (yes, we’ve tested old meals on ourselves), though taste & texture may decline.

Finally, if you think you’ll need your LeafSide meals beyond their usual best-by time frame, remember that you can always store them in a fridge/freezer, to greatly extend their best-taste/texture lifetime. It’s yet another way to get more value & flexibility from LeafSide, while never wasting food!