Can anyone explain the codes on food products?

[homesteader824]

I'm not talking about the UPC bar code they scan at the checkout, but a number printed in ink, often on the lid or the bottom of the container. I have heard that sometimes a company makes a given product and puts different companies' names on it. I remember a couple of years ago there was a recall for peanut butter, and a whole list of brand names was given, but they had a common number. Can someone tell me the name for this code number, and maybe point me to where it is explained?

[Daydreamer7102]

My husband used to work in a food factory and from what I understand, it sounds like all companies might use their own unique code. I know he can look at the code on the products of his former employer and tell when, where, which line, etc they were made on.

[FarmChix]

They are called Julian Codes. Those numbers indicate the plant number, shift and batch number for quality control. When there are quality issues with the product, most companies can trace the product right back to when and where it was produced.

[fishhead]

I think you'll need to contact the specific company to find out what their code means. Too bad they don't have a standard code to indicate "use by".

[homesteader824]

Thanks, that helps. The reason I'm interested in the codes is sometimes there's a particular brand of a product I like, then I see a different brand that looks identical, and I wonder if it is just a different label on the exact same product.

An example is the coffee creamer I use (yes, I know, a bunch of chemicals and not natural). I went to stock up this month at Walmart and they discontinued the type I want--their store brand. I went to Dollar General and their store brand had similar numbers in the first group, the same numbers in the middle, and then close for the last group. The ingredients list is identical. So I wonder if one company makes the same creamer for both store brands, and just change the labels?

[FarmChix]

It is possible homesteader. The product specs change when a manufacturer makes private label products. Julian codes differ by manufacturer. i.e. like this:
0000-112203X

0000=Plant Number
11 = Month of Manufacture
22=Date of Manufacture
03=Shift
X=Which Line it was manufactured on

Sometimes, they will replace the 1122 with the # of the day of the year...based on 365 days per year.

There is no standard for the order the information is given, just that it must be given (in most cases).

If you are looking at the standardized UPC code numbers and are comparing the WM product to the Dollar General product, the first five digits will be the exact same number.

[arabian knight]

Originally Posted by homesteader824

Thanks, that helps. The reason I'm interested in the codes is sometimes there's a particular brand of a product I like, then I see a different brand that looks identical, and I wonder if it is just a different label on the exact same product.

An example is the coffee creamer I use (yes, I know, a bunch of chemicals and not natural). I went to stock up this month at Walmart and they discontinued the type I want--their store brand. I went to Dollar General and their store brand had similar numbers in the first group, the same numbers in the middle, and then close for the last group. The ingredients list is identical. So I wonder if one company makes the same creamer for both store brands, and just change the labels?

Well sure they are the same. There are Just So Many big canners, big companies etc in this country. No way can a off brand Store Brand be THEIR OWN.

All companies make what is called Private Label products.
Private labeled for ALL those store brands etc.

Heck even my friends that have a commercial coffee business has SOME of their coffee package into a Private label for say some Night clubs etc so they the Night Club and Advertise said Coffee as it is theirs made ONLY for them when in fact it IS the same coffee that is in pre measured packets MAY have less of the better beens in it to keep the cost in line that is all, but in all aspects of the product it IS basically the same thing.

Same thing goes for Store Brand or more correctly called Private Labeled Products.
There are just so many packers, so many canners etc. in this country.

And speaking about coffee don't be Taken In on what has been the hottest things to hit is "Fair Trade".
There is NO Such Thing.
The Beans come out of the SAME huge sack or container as ALL others do~! Period.

And as far as the Codes. Those are pretty much unique to whatever company did the packaging under the private label.