What’s behind the code on the bottom of beverage cans?

During the summer, when hot days increase in number, many of us look for creative ways to keep cool. Cold beverage cans are a good alternative for that. However, it is always important to clean the cans before drinking from them, either directly or in a glass.

Many consumers wonder what the code lettering and numbers printed on the bottom of the can mean. As explained by Juan Ramón Meléndez, who is also the general director of the Beverage Can Association, the label contains embossed numbers that inform about the manufacturing process, as well as the machine in charge of producing it.

In addition, this color code also shows the information of the machine that gave the inner varnish to the can. These colors are always there but may or may not be visible to the human eye and if we do not see them we would need a black light (ultraviolet). In any case, as Meléndez reminds us, this is industrial information, not intended for the consumer. “If there is any problem, a follow-up can be made to control traceability and protect the health and hygiene of the product”, said Meléndez. he pointed out.

The food packaging process has a crucial stage: the packer, who is in charge of filling the can, will print the remaining codes on the can, i.e. the best-before date and the other characters referring to the time of filling.

In order to know the manufacturing batch and ensure traceability, some companies have alphanumeric codes. This was emphasized by Albert Monferrer, technical director of BDN Ingeniería de Alimentación, who added that these codes should at least contain the best-before date.