Most people keep supplements in one of the two worst possible places: in the bathroom or on the windowsill. Both choices make some sense, but they expose the product to moisture, changes in temperature and light. Below we explain what exactly harms it and where it is best to keep it.
Four factors that spoil a product
Temperature
A higher temperature speeds up chemical changes and can affect the texture. The producer states the composition and quality parameters for the conditions described on the label.
Not only extreme values matter, but also changes. A place where the temperature changes several times a day is worse than one that stays cool.
The label gives the exact requirements. “Store in a cool place” means something different from “store in the fridge”, so what the producer says decides.
Light
Some substances are sensitive to light, especially ultraviolet light. This is why producers use dark glass bottles, packaging you cannot see through and outer cardboard boxes.
The biggest problem is direct sunlight, which adds heat to the light and warms up the package.
Moisture
Moisture affects mainly solid forms. Tablets, capsules and powders can take in water from the air, which makes the contents form lumps and stick together.
Packages of tablets sometimes contain small bags that absorb moisture. Do not throw them away or open them.
More: Liquid supplement, capsule or powder – how the forms differ
Air and opening the package many times
Each time you open a package, the contents come into contact with air, which means oxygen and moisture. With products you open every day, the effect adds up.
The practical conclusion: close the package right after measuring a portion, not after you finish breakfast.
More: How to use liquid supplements without losing their properties
Why the bathroom and the kitchen windowsill are bad places
The bathroom is the most humid room in a home, and every bath or shower brings sudden changes in temperature. So the cabinet above the sink is often the worst place, even though it is the most convenient.
A kitchen windowsill combines sunlight with being close to the cooker, oven and kettle. The product stands there in the light and in a flow of warm air.
A third such place is the car. The inside of a car heats up quickly in summer and gets cold in winter, so leaving a package there goes against the conditions on the label.
Where to store supplements at home
| Place | Rating | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Cupboard in the bedroom or living room | Good | Stable temperature, no light, low humidity |
| Kitchen cupboard away from the cooker | Good | Dark and dry, if it is not next to a source of heat |
| Fridge | Depends on the product | Recommended when the label says so |
| Bathroom cabinet | Bad | High humidity and changes in temperature |
| Windowsill | Bad | Direct light and the package heats up |
| Worktop next to the cooker or kettle | Bad | Heat and steam |
| Car, bag or backpack all the time | Bad | Large changes in temperature |
This table is approximate and covers typical situations. The recommendation on the label of the specific product always decides.
What changes after you open the package
Until you open it, the product is in conditions that the producer controls: the package is sealed, and the contents have no contact with air.
This is why many producers give separate storage recommendations for after opening and a time within which to use the product. This information is separate from the best before date.
More: Best before and use by – two dates that mean different things
When the fridge is recommended
The fridge is not the default choice for all supplements. It is recommended when the producer says so, which often applies to liquid products after opening.
An example of such recommendations is THESYBIN food supplement: store in a dry, cool place, away from light. After opening, keep in the fridge and use within 30 days.
More: A supplement without live bacterial cultures – how it is possible and what it changes
For solid forms, the fridge can be worse than a cupboard: moving the package between the cold and room temperature makes water condense, which means it adds moisture.
How long after opening
The producer gives the time within which to use the product after opening, and only this information is binding. There is no single time for all supplements.
If the label gives a time to use the product after opening, write the opening date on the package. A marker pen solves the problem of remembering.
The best before date applies to an unopened product that is stored as recommended. Do not use the product after this date.
The original package and why it is worth keeping
A package is not just a container. Dark glass, material you cannot see through and a tight closure protect the product in ways chosen for it.
If you move the contents into organisers, small jars or bags, the product loses this protection. You also lose information: the batch number, the best before date, the composition and the instructions.
The batch number matters in practice: if you make a complaint, it is the first thing you will be asked for.
Supplements out of the reach of children
Information about storing the product out of the reach of young children is a required element of a food supplement label.
A few practical rules:
- High up and locked away. A cupboard that closes or a shelf a child cannot reach, not the kitchen worktop.
- Close the package. Close the bottle right after use, even if you will come back to it in a moment.
- Do not move it into other containers. A product in a glass is easy to mistake for a drink.
- Do not call it sweets. Words that suggest sweets make a child more interested.
- Be careful with handbags and backpacks. A package in a bag can be easier for a child to reach than one in a cupboard.
If a child takes the product by accident, contact a doctor and take the package with you.
Storage when travelling
When you travel, it is hard to keep the conditions described on the label. Carry products that need to stay cool in an insulated cool bag with an ice pack, but avoid direct contact with the ice pack.
A package left in a hot car is exposed to temperatures much higher than at home.
On a plane, liquid products are subject to the limits on liquids in hand luggage, which come from EU rules on civil aviation security. Check the current rules with the airline before you travel, because they sometimes change.
Summary
Four factors harm supplements: temperature and its changes, light, moisture and contact with air when you open the package many times. The bathroom and the windowsill combine several of them at once.
A good place is usually a dark, dry cupboard that closes and has a stable temperature. Use the fridge when the label says so. It is best to keep the product in its original package.
After opening, the producer’s separate recommendations apply. The best before date applies to an unopened product, and you should not use the product after this date. Keep the package out of the reach of children.
FAQ
Should all supplements be kept in the fridge?
No. The fridge is recommended when the producer says so, which applies to some liquid products after opening. For solid forms, keeping them cold can be bad, because it makes moisture condense.
Can I put capsules into a weekly pill organiser?
If you do, you lose the protection of the original package and the information on the label, including the batch number and the best before date. If you still use an organiser, only fill it for a short period and keep the original package.
What should I do if the bottle was not put in the fridge?
If the label says to keep the product cold after opening, leaving it at room temperature goes against the recommendations. If in doubt, contact the producer. Do not take the product if its look, smell or texture has changed.
Is the best before date only a rough guide?
No. The best before date applies to an unopened product that is stored as recommended, and you should not use the product after this date. The time to use the product after opening applies separately, if the producer gives one.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers.
- Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 June 2002 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to food supplements.
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 of 16 May 2012 establishing a list of permitted health claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and health.
- Recommendations given by producers on the packages of specific products; in each case, the information on the specific label applies.
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 of 5 November 2015 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security (point 4.1.3 – screening of liquids, aerosols and gels).