Semihoudbare

Semihoudbare is a Dutch term used in retail, logistics and food safety to describe products with a limited shelf life. It designates items that are not fully houdbaar (shelf-stable) but are also not immediately bederfelijk (perishable). In practice, semihoudbare goods should be consumed or sold within a shorter time frame than typical shelf-stable products, yet longer than highly perishable items.

Etymology: The word combines semi- (half) with houdbaar (able to be kept), reflecting its meaning as 'semi-stor able'.

Usage: Commonly applied to dairy products with brief refrigeration margins, some fruits and vegetables, prepared meals, and ready-to-eat items that retain quality for days rather than weeks.

Logistics: Inventory management emphasizes faster turnover, tighter expiry-date monitoring, and sometimes temperature controls; promotions and pricing may be used to move semihoudbare stock before it expires.

Regulatory and standardization: There is no universal international standard for semihoudbare; definitions vary by retailer or sector; the term is informal and not always clearly defined to consumers.

See also: Shelf life, Perishables, houdbaarheid.