Although the CBD market has come along, finding quality and reputable CBD products is still challenging. So much so that you might be tempted to buy in bulk every time you come across a brand offering high-quality CBD oil that suits your palette and meets and exceeds your expectations. But with bulk purchases, you can help but wonder if the CBD oil will go bad. Supposing it does, how much time do you have, and how do you tell if your CBD oil has gone bad?
Does CBD Oil Go Bad?
CBD oil, like other natural products, goes bad at some point. On average, CBD oil expires within three years of manufacture when stored correctly. If stored incorrectly, the CBD will break down and become ineffective before its expiry date. Other factors can contribute to CBD oil going bad before its sell-by date.
What Affects the Shelf Life of CBD Oil?
Numerous factors can affect the shelf life of CBD. The most important among them is storage. You should store CBD oil in a dark and dry location, avoiding environmental factors like oxygen, heat, UV light and humidity. Other factors that will affect the shelf life of CBD include;
Carrier oil quality
Carrier oil is one of the most critical ingredients in CBD oil. Unfortunately, it is also one of the first to go stale and rancid in CBD products. The quality and freshness of the carrier oil play a critical role in prolonging the life of CBD oil.
Carrier oils are unsaturated fats with carbon bond chains that break down over time when exposed to oxygen in a process called oxidation.
When coconut oil or MCT oil bases go bad, they discolour from white to yellow and become murky. You will also notice that the CBD oil will have a sour or putrid smell when the carrier oil goes bad.
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Additional ingredients
It’s best to keep CBD oils as natural as possible. But, manufacturers have added other ingredients in the race to make CBD oils more beneficial.
Additional ingredients like colouring and artificial flavouring may affect the CBD molecules and impact the expiration date negatively. However, other ingredients like essential oils will not only add more aromatherapy and flavouring to your oils but also increase the shelf life of CBD oil because they are naturally antibacterial and anti-fungal.
Packaging
It’s not just the contents of the CBD oil that affect its shelf life but also the packaging. That is why most quality CBD oils come in an amber glass bottle. Not just for the aesthetics and branding but also to filter UV light and protect the product’s active ingredients from degrading.
The quality of the packaging isn’t limited to the packaging materials of the CBD oil but also the packaging facility as well. Taking proper precautions to prevent contamination and guarantee exceptional performance is critical in prolonging the shelf life of CBD oil.
Time
When processing and selling CBD Oil, how fast a manufacturer moves the products from the processing lines to the customers’ hands is critical because it determines how much viable time you have left to use the CBD oil. The less time the CBD oil spends on the warehouse shelves, the fresher it is when it gets to you and reduces the chances of it going bad. That’s why it’s essential to check the manufacturer’s date of your product when purchasing to ensure its freshness.
How To Tell If Your CBD Oil Has Gone Bad
Taking expired CBD oil can leave a bad taste in your mouth and even cause some adverse side effects. That’s why it’s essential to know the tell-tale signs of CBD oil that have gone bad.
The colour changes
Good CBD oil has a clear, dark brown, white or dark green colour depending on the type of hemp extract and carrier oil. MCT and coconut oil will have a cloudy consistency, especially when stored in a cool place, but this shouldn’t worry. You only need to give your CBD a good shake before consuming it to mix the contents.
But, if you notice that the oil is brown or chunky at room temperature, that’s when you should get concerned. If you suspect your CBD oil has gone bad, hold the amber bottle against a light source to examine the CBD oil for cloudiness at room temperature and other inconsistencies.
It smells and tastes funny
Naturally, CBD oil has a bitter-earthy scent, and the flavour might change slightly depending on the ingredients. So even though you might not be a fan of the taste of CBD oil, you will know once the taste and the smell change.
Hopefully, you notice the smell and appearance of the CBD oil before you taste it. In most cases, carrier oils will have a natural or nutty flavour. When they go bad, they have a sour taste.
It is less effective
Expired CBD oil might taste perfectly fine, but if it has degenerated because of UV light or heat exposure, the CBD oil won’t work. If you find taking the same amount of CBD oil isn’t conveying any effects anymore, and you have tried increasing the serving, the oil may have completely degenerated. You need substantial servings to feel any effects.
Can Expired CBD Oil Make You Sick?
Different people may react differently after consuming CBD oil. However, there’s a good chance you won’t get extremely ill after taking expired CBD oil, especially if you only consume it in small amounts. However, it’s best to play it safe and get rid of CBD oils past their expiration dates or showing signs of going bad.
After all, expired CBD oils are no longer potent and therefore don’t get any benefits from the degraded CBD oils.
Conclusion
CBD oils can last up to three years, depending on the quality and reputation of the manufacturer. Instead of stocking up, only purchase what you can consume in a few months and restock before consuming your last bottle. It ensures you never run dry and always purchase fresh, high-quality CBD oil.
