First digit is year next two digits are the week of the year it was made. The ingredients in candy wafers will not “go bad” in the first year of storage; however, the workability may change. After one year, candy wafers will usually have fat bloom, requiring them to be thinned out when melting. If it contains nuts or chocolate, it’ll expire faster. Upper end on lifespan for the most persevering candies is two years, but most are about 6 months. Properly stored, milk chocolate will generally stay at best quality for about 1 year at normal room temperature. I have Hershey milk chocolate bar and expired last November 2015, will its still be good to eat? Is chocolate safe to use after the "expiration" date on the package? 307191 – 3 is Mass. Canned foods also help lower food costs. Thank you and Godbless Reply; Bryn Kirk April 1, 2016 at 9:30 am. M&M Mars and Hershey brand candy both had different, indecipherable codes on the back which tell the expiration date. Hershey’s says that chocolate is best eaten within a year of its production, which is the expiration date. Our "best before" dates are established by us to insure absolute peak of freshness. Chocolate has a fairly long shelf life, especially dark chocolate. Chocolate-coated fresh fruit needs refrigeration, or the fruit might spoil in a day. 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. 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. Also Know, do candy bars have an expiration date? The "Best Before" date is in the day, month, and year format. Candy Wafer Shelf Life. The shelf life of chocolate candy depends in part on what’s inside the chocolate coating. If moisture can get to it--even summer humidity--it can soften, become sticky, clump together, and otherwise become unappetizing. Dark chocolate will keep well for about 5 years if it is constantly stored at temperatures ranging between 60°F - 65°F. Hershey – Expire Date. Canned foods cost up to 20% less than their fresh counterparts and up to half the cost of frozen. The first 2 digits show the day, the 3 letters show the month and the last 2 digits show the year. Solid chocolate lasts longest, cream-filled ones less long. After this date, we request that the retailer no longer sell the product." No, chocolate does not have a use-by date it just has a best before date. Here are some general guidelines on how long candy … 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. NECCO – Made Date. Reading Candy Bar Freshness Codes. 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. If you've got chocolate-covered fresh fruit, refrigerate it promptly. Mars – Made Date. There may be some degradation to the color or flavorings after six months or so, but the candy itself will last indefinitely. To eliminate such problems, purchase candy … Once the package is opened, dark chocolate should be of great quality for a year, white and milk ones for maybe 8-10 months. If not, the less moisture and fat that type of candy has, the longer it will last. Nestle – Made Date. First number is year (0-9) second letter is month (A-L, which is Jan-Dec). How long does milk chocolate last? Can you eat chocolate 2 years out of date?