I was about to post something similar. My experience is pretty much what you describe using a small sample of a particular brand of pickled jalapeños that I've been using for more than a decade. The jars that I've used all lasted well more than a year - only because I finished the contents, not because of quality issues - and the most recent jar, purchased about 8 months ago, has an expiry date as mid-2027.
@AlaMoi There may be some factual basis for your belief, but at the least, I don't think it's the only answer.
