# Shelf life of little condiment packages? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 29, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelf-life-of-little-condiment-packages/252701 "2004-06-29T14:49:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelf-life-of-little-condiment-packages/252701/1 "2004-06-29T14:49:55Z")
So I had some little packages of Heinz ketchup. They sat in my kitchen drawer for maybe a couple months. I went to use them on fries yesterday. The first bite told me they had gone pretty funky. Into the garbage with the ketchup, and a good amount of the fries as well. ☹ Is there a way to tell the shelf life of these little packets? There doesn’t seem to be any date on the package. Or is it a “use at your own risk” kind of deal? ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelf-life-of-little-condiment-packages/252701/2 "2004-06-29T15:18:26Z")
If they remain perfectly sealed, they should last for a very long time. My guess is that your packet developed a small air leak, which would allow the contents to go bad. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelf-life-of-little-condiment-packages/252701/3 "2004-06-29T15:40:43Z")
Heinz suggests that you refrigerate opened ketchup bottles, but does not insist upon it, as it doesn’t spoil easily.