Newswise — When checking your child's Halloween candy to make sure it is safe to eat, also keep in mind the candy's shelf life, according to Kansas State University food experts.
K-State's Karen Blakeslee, research and extension associate for food safety, and Fadi Aramouni, professor of food science, say that the shelf life of candy can vary.
"The shelf life depends on the type of candy, packaging and storage conditions," Blakeslee said. "Shelf life can vary anywhere from two weeks to a year."
More specifically, Aramouni said these factors contribute to how long the quality of the candy lasts. In terms of safety, he said the shelf life of some candy, like hard candy, may be indefinite; however, he said there have been cases of salmonella poisoning from the consumption of expired chocolate.
"It depends on properties of the candy itself: how much moisture is in it and how much fat," Aramouni said.
According to Blakeslee, if a candy appears extremely sticky or has a grainy texture, then it has most likely expired due to temperature abuse and the crystallization of sugar. As a result, she said, it may develop an off flavor, have a change in color or turn moldy if it contains fruits or nuts.
A general rule to follow is that the softer the candy, then the shorter the shelf life it will have. Keeping candy in a cool, dry and dark place is the best way to store it, Blakeslee said.
"The less exposure to air, the better," she said. "Also, store it at room temperature. Heat can cause many candies to melt and get too sticky. Chocolate can get a powdery look to it -- called bloom -- because of temperature changes, but it is still fine to eat."
So the next time a craving for candy strikes, Aramouni recommends checking labels and staying level-headed.
"It is OK to throw away old candy," he said. "Don't feel compelled to eat it. It's mostly empty calories after all."
For more specific information Aramouni and Blakeslee recommend the following guidelines from the National Confectioners Association regarding the shelf life of various types of candy.
* Chocolate: Dark chocolate can be kept for one to two years if wrapped in foil and stored in a cool, dark and dry place. Milk and white chocolates last no more than eight to 10 months.
* Hard candy: Lollipops, roll candy and butterscotch candies can last up to a year when stored at room temperature or in cool, dry conditions.
* Jellied candies: Upon opening the packaging and storing at room temperature, jellied candies can last six to nine months.
* Gum: Most gum products can last six to nine months as long as the packaging remains sealed.
* Caramel: When stored properly at room temperature and away from the heat and light, caramel candy can last six to nine months -- and even up to a year in some cases.
FAQs
According to Blakeslee, if a candy appears extremely sticky or has a grainy texture, then it has most likely expired due to temperature abuse and the crystallization of sugar. As a result, she said, it may develop an off flavor, have a change in color or turn moldy if it contains fruits or nuts.
How do you know if sweets have gone bad? ›
If you open a bag of lollipops and they're gritty, sticky, and taste bad, they're definitely beyond their prime. When you notice white streaks called “blooms” and the chocolate has a dry feel, you know it's gone bad.
What happens when candy goes bad? ›
In candy terms, "going bad" essentially means losing its taste, texture, and visual appeal -- factors that play a crucial role in our candy-crunching experience. And let's be real, a tasteless, misshapen candy is as bad as any spoiled food.
Is expired candy safe to eat? ›
What about candy expiration dates — shouldn't I just adhere to those? Most candies do have expiration dates, but like most foods, these dates serve more as guidelines for when to consume them. It's generally fine to eat candy past its expiration date, though the quality and texture does decline after a certain point.
How long does it take for sweets to go bad? ›
If the packaging has been opened, soft candies should be kept in a covered candy dish, away from heat and light at room temperature (about 70 degrees). Stored in this manner, the candy should last six to nine months. If the packaging has not been opened, soft sweets will last approximately 12 months.
Can I eat 10 year old candy? ›
“In the case of most commercially processed foods, it's contamination during processing and packaging that leads to foodborne illness, not the age of the food. So, even after some time passes, candy should be safe to eat as long as it was properly handled and it remains unopened prior to eating.”
Can you get food poisoning from old sweets? ›
The WORST that can happen after several years is that the colours may fade! Expired candy can also carry microbes that can make you sick.
Can you eat chocolate 2 years out of date? ›
Dark chocolate, with its higher cacao content, can be good to eat for as long as three years past the best before. Due to their high milk contents, milk and white chocolates might not last as long as dark, but their longevity is still nothing to sniff at — you can expect to get another 8 months or so out of it.
Is it okay to eat expired gummies? ›
Consuming old gummies is generally not dangerous, but it's not recommended. If gummies are past their expiration date, they may have lost a significant amount of their potency, which can lead to an underwhelming experience. In some cases, the flavor and texture may also be off-putting.
What candy has the longest expiration date? ›
Hard candy like Jolly Ranchers, lollipops and other individually wrapped candies can essentially last forever if they're stored right and kept away from moisture. Dark chocolate can last one to two years in a cool, dark, dry place. Milk and white chocolate will last up to 10 months.
Hard candy (I think called boiled candy in England), such as lollipops or star mints is essentially pure sugar, with some color and flavor added. This type of candy will last essentially forever, if kept absolutely dry.
Can Starburst go bad? ›
Starbursts expire and have an expiration date, but it's important to note that it primarily indicates the point at which the candy's flavor and freshness start to decline. If you store Starbursts under appropriate conditions, they can remain consumable for up to one to two years.
What is the shelf life of sweets? ›
Dry sweets can typically be kept for 1 to 2 weeks, milk-based sweets for 2 to 3 days, and fresh sweets for the day they are made. Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Here are some tips for storing Indian sweets to extend their shelf life: Keep them in an airtight container.
How can you tell if sugar has gone bad? ›
However, sugars have a best-if-used by date of approximately 2 years for quality concerns. This is due to lumpiness or hardening in granulated sugars and crystallization of sugars in honey and syrup. It is still safe to use even when lumpy or crystals are present.
When should you throw away sugar? ›
“Sugar, properly stored (tightly closed and in a dry place), has an indefinite shelf life because it does not support microbial growth,” explains Domino Sugar's FAQ page. Don't worry about hardened brown sugar, either — it results from the evaporation of its natural moisture and is still safe to eat.
What does spoiled sugar look like? ›
Like white sugar, raw sugar will never go bad. It could lump up, but this is not as common due to its rough texture and larger granules. It can get hard, though, if it has had moisture exposure.
