Who hasn’t been digging through a medicine cabinet only to find that their vitamins and other supplements have passed their expiration dates. It happens. Your gut reaction is to chuck them in the trash. After all, we do the same for food after we see that it’s out of date, so why not supplements? The reality is that vitamins don’t necessarily “go bad” the same way that food does. In fact, understanding what that date on the label actually means is a bit more complicated. In this guide we’ll break down what happens to supplements over time and whether you should use them after the date on the bottle passes.

Do vitamins expire?

Your vitamin bottles most likely have a date on them, but that’s not technically an expiration date. That’s because your vitamins don’t expire in the way that you may think. Because vitamins don’t become unsafe when they “expire,” the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t even require a date to be put on the bottles. Most manufacturers still do, though, because there is a point when vitamins lose potency. This means that your vitamins and minerals may not be providing the full nutritional value you expect if they’re past their shelf life.

Depending on your vitamins and supplements and what form they’re in, they lose potency at different rates. Tablets and capsules tend to stay potent for longer than something like a chewable gummy vitamin. 

The best way to store your vitamins is in a cool, dry place. Two of the worst places — and two of the most common — are in the bathroom and the kitchen. Both of these rooms run warm and damp, which can make your vitamins break down faster. Putting your vitamins in a closet or in a spot in your bedroom that’s not getting direct sunlight can help prolong their potency.

How expired is ‘too expired’ for vitamins?

Though vitamins won’t expire and become unsafe, they will lose potency, which means they’re not doing you any good. Manufacturers put the dates on the bottle that signifies when the vitamins hit that point, so if you’re past the “best by” date on a bottle, go ahead and toss them because, while they won’t make you sick, they also won’t help you.

Though it’s not common, vitamins can become moldy or smelly, especially if they’re not stored properly. If your vitamins are in this condition, throw them out immediately and get a new bottle. This is a situation where your vitamins can be unsafe to consume because of whatever contamination is happening with them.

There are currently no documented cases of “expired” vitamins becoming toxic or dangerous to people. Expired vitamins are really just a waste of time and not much else.

How long can you use vitamins after expiration date?

Although taking vitamins past their expiration date is OK, it will depend on how well you’ve stored them and if they have been opened. Other factors to consider are the type of vitamin and what it’s made of. For example, vitamins in gummy form tend to degrade faster than those in tablet or capsule form because they are more prone to absorbing moisture. A good rule of thumb is that if mold is present, the smell is off or the consistency has changed, throw it out.

How to dispose of expired vitamins

After you’ve determined your vitamins are past the point of no return, it’s important to get rid of them safely. Simply throwing them in the trash can be a risk, because children or even pets could end up getting a hold of them. And while you might be tempted to flush them down the toilet, that’s not a good idea because old vitamins can still potentially contaminate the water. 

The FDA recommends dumping the vitamins out of the bottle and into a plastic bag and mixing them with an “undesirable substance” like coffee grounds or cat litter. Seal the mixture in the bag and put that bag into your trash. 

You can also take your vitamins to a drug take-back center in your community if you have one. While these are more commonly used for prescription drugs, you can also dispose of your vitamins so they can be handled safely.

The bottom line

While your vitamins won’t technically expire, they will become useless after a period of time. Pay attention to the dates the manufacturers put on bottles so you know when your vitamins and supplements will stop working for you. As long as you’re storing them properly, they will last as long as they’re meant to — and contribute to your overall health.