Standard Process Vitamins

Why do multivitamins have expiration dates?

I bought a bottle of multivitamins back in 2004 - They were never opened but they are now past the expiration date - are these ok to use?

Public Comments

1. With regards to medicines, try to be very careful. If you are not sure, throw it away and that's for sure you're safe. Every goods that has been manufactured has its own expiration date. Don't be so ignorant about this thing and this is a part of daily living and business....expiration dates.
2. Eh, well I doubt that they'd hurt you, but they may not be effective. Preservatives only last so long, and when they run out and "stop preserving," there's nothing to keep the vitamins from expiring. They expire because everything expires. Hope this helps!
3. believe me they dıo get spoiled those vitamins.
4. no. there is an expiration date on them for a reason....THEY GO BAD.
5. If they were never exposed to extreme heat, and they are not too far past the expiration date, they should be safe to use. I think that the only reason multi-vits have an expiration date is that they might start losing some of their potency after a while. It would be best to call a pharmacist and explain the situation.
6. They lose their potency.
7. They wouldn't hurt you if you took them. BUT...the reason that medicines (including vitamins) have expiration dates is because after that date...they cannot guarantee the potency of the product anymore. It won't be as effective as it once was and it keeps decreasing as time goes on. If they are not that far past the expiration date then they are probably ok if you use them within a month or two. They will not make you sick.