Once the package is opened, dark chocolate should be of great quality for a year, white and milk ones for maybe 8-10 months. 307191 – 3 is Mass. Here are some general guidelines on how long candy … Upper end on lifespan for the most persevering candies is two years, but most are about 6 months. Solid chocolate lasts longest, cream-filled ones less long. Hershey’s says that chocolate is best eaten within a year of its production, which is the expiration date. I have Hershey milk chocolate bar and expired last November 2015, will its still be good to eat? If not, the less moisture and fat that type of candy has, the longer it will last. Properly stored, milk chocolate will generally stay at best quality for about 1 year at normal room temperature. M&M Mars and Hershey brand candy both had different, indecipherable codes on the back which tell the expiration date. The "Best Before" date is in the day, month, and year format. Dark chocolate will keep well for about 5 years if it is constantly stored at temperatures ranging between 60°F - 65°F. If you've got chocolate-covered fresh fruit, refrigerate it promptly. First digit is year next two digits are the week of the year it was made. Hershey – Expire Date. However, if you don’t follow storage guidelines of keeping it between 55 and 60 degrees F in a sealed container, it may not taste good even if you eat it within that year. Our "best before" dates are established by us to insure absolute peak of freshness. How long does milk chocolate last? Canned foods cost up to 20% less than their fresh counterparts and up to half the cost of frozen. Also Know, do candy bars have an expiration date? Nestle – Made Date. Chocolate-coated fresh fruit needs refrigeration, or the fruit might spoil in a day. Can you eat chocolate 2 years out of date? No, chocolate does not have a use-by date it just has a best before date. To eliminate such problems, purchase candy … Canned foods also help lower food costs. Reading Candy Bar Freshness Codes. NECCO – Made Date. First number is year (0-9) second letter is month (A-L, which is Jan-Dec). The ingredients in candy wafers will not “go bad” in the first year of storage; however, the workability may change. If moisture can get to it--even summer humidity--it can soften, become sticky, clump together, and otherwise become unappetizing. Is chocolate safe to use after the "expiration" date on the package? Thank you and Godbless Reply; Bryn Kirk April 1, 2016 at 9:30 am. Chocolate has a fairly long shelf life, especially dark chocolate. As long as the package of the chocolate bar is unopened, dark chocolate should be fine for at least two years, white and milk ones for a year. Pure chocolate can last for two years or more without presenting any acute health risks, but it’s likely to change in texture and become less appetizing after about 12 months. Candy Wafer Shelf Life. After this date, we request that the retailer no longer sell the product." The shelf life of chocolate candy depends in part on what’s inside the chocolate coating. Hi Marie, Since it is only a few months past its expiration date, the chocolate is probably fine as long as it has been stored properly. After one year, candy wafers will usually have fat bloom, requiring them to be thinned out when melting. The first 2 digits show the day, the 3 letters show the month and the last 2 digits show the year. Mars – Made Date. If it contains nuts or chocolate, it’ll expire faster. There may be some degradation to the color or flavorings after six months or so, but the candy itself will last indefinitely.