Spice Shelf Life

I know that i am not the only one who has dry spices in the cupboards. The good news is, spices do not spoil. The bad news is, they lose their strength.  For the longest i have wondered just how long they are good for. After doing some research on the web i came across the following guide lines on the McCormick website:

Ground spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, turmeric): 2 to 3 years

Herbs (basil, oregano, parsley): 1 to 3 years

Seasoning blends: 1 to 2 years

Whole spices (cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks): 4 years

Seeds: 4 years (except for poppy and sesame seeds, which should be discarded after 2 years)

Extracts: 4 years (except for vanilla, which will last forever)

Also McCormick offers a Fresh Tester on their website for many of their spices goods:

McCormick Fresh Tester