When code dating products in the meat department, what type of products requires manual entry of shelf life?

The requirement for manual entry of shelf life primarily applies to pre-packaged manufactured products. These items typically do not come with a standard expiration or sell-by date already specified on their packaging, especially if they are from various manufacturers or if they are created in-house. For these products, staff must carefully track the shelf life to ensure freshness and compliance with food safety standards. This involves entering accurate dates manually, which enables the store to maintain optimal inventory levels and reduce spoilage.

Fresh produce generally has a relatively short shelf life, and its turnover is naturally high due to demand, often negating the need for extensive tracking. Frozen meats also tend to have established shelf lives and may include guidelines on their packaging. Deli meats, while they may have specific shelf lives, often come with labels that indicate expiration or use-by dates provided by suppliers, reducing the necessity for manual entry.

Thus, pre-packaged manufactured products are the focus requiring careful monitoring through manual input, ensuring quality and safety for consumers.