Batch

A batch, also called lot, groups products that were made and filled together. It gets an identifier printed on the package, often as a number or letter code next to the best-before date.

The batch number allows targeted tracing and recall of affected goods in case of quality problems, without blocking the whole range. Traders record it at goods receipt so deliveries can be traced. A wine or beer of the same brand can turn out slightly different depending on the batch, for example because of harvest or raw materials.