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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

Why does my packet of salt have a ‘use by’ date on it?

Rock salt in dish
Rock salt ... it’s been around for ages, so why the ‘use by’ date? Photograph: foodfolio / Alamy/Alamy

There are salt mines in Cheshire with salt that has been lying there unchanged for millennia, so why does my packet of salt have a “use by” date on it? It’s not going to suddenly change into some other chemical substance, is it?

Peter Hanson, Whitestone, Exeter

Post your answers – and new questions – below or email them to nq@theguardian.com

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