I’ve Never Checked for An Expiration Date on This Item

It has been a little over 48 hours since the last of the ghosts, goblins and plethora of fancy costumes have lined the streets looking for a quick fix of sugary goodness or chocolate infusion to keep the night going.

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Now that Halloween 2025 is in the books, how much candy is left in the bowl, especially after the parent tax?

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Did you know that some of that candy has an expiration date?  Nope, I didn't either.  But it never lasts long enough to find out in most cases.

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I've Never Checked for An Expiration Date on This Item

Fast fact:  I have never needed to worry about the expiration date on candy.  Ever.  The only time would be finding a pocket size snack left in a saddle bag.  And even then, it depends on just how long you have been in said saddle.  But yes, your candy can expire after a certain length of time.

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If you want to maximize the length you can have it stored, make sure that you are placing it in a cool, dark place.  Spare candy can even be frozen, used in a baked dessert or even re-packaged for a quick stocking stuffer.  You could even share them at work, like one of our sales staff did:

Expiration Dates for Common Candy and Grab Size Favorites

Don't worry, you won't need to give yourself another stomachache trying to finish up what you have leftover.  But there are limits on the shelf life.

• Chocolate will lose moisture and flavor over time; even sealed
• Filled chocolates like peanut butter cups or those with caramel are good for 6-9 months on average
• Milk chocolate will last up to 10 months when stored properly
• Dark chocolate can make it up to 2 years

For other favorites in the cupboard or left in the candy dish, expect the following:

• Potato chips will make it nearly 6 months
• Harder candy like a lollipop or even jellybeans can last up to a year if wrapped and stored correctly

Or, and hear me out on this one, the expiration date on any candy is until personal self-control runs out.  And in the case of candy corn, well, again, I have never, ever had to worry that the pain in my stomach was because of an expired bag.  Ever.