A Guide on the Shelf life of Sugar Confections. How long will left-over Halloween Candy and Chocolate stay fresh?

For some kids, the best part of Halloween night is when they come home after trick-or-treating, and dump their treats on the floor to evaluate the night's collection.  Maybe the treats are sorted by their favorites, some go to the "eat now" pile and,  some to the "eat later" pile. For those in the "eat later" pile, and those left over Halloween treats, how long should we keep them? Below is a Guide on the Shelf Life of Sugar Confections.

The General information is Provided by the National Confectioners Association (NCA). Shelf life for specific products is provided by the manufacturer of those products. 

The shelf life is the time when the manufacturer determines that the original quality of the product has started to deteriorate and is measured from date of manufacture.

Candy              Shelf Life         Comments
Altoids Gum      12 months         Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Altoids Mints     18 months         Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Altoids Sours     18 months         Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Amorini Hearts 10 months    Provided by: CandyFavorites.com
Big League Chew 9 - 15 mos.    Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Big Red Gum     10 months         Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Bubble Beeper   9 - 12 months   Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Bubble Gum 4 - 6 months     Provided by: CandyFavorites.com
Bubble Jug        9 - 12 months    Provided by: The Wrigley Co.
Butterscotches   1 year                Hard candies can last up to a year when stored at room temperature or in a cool, dry location.
Candy Bars        The average shelf for a chocolate candy bar is anywhere up to six (6) months, however, certain candies such as Necco Wafers, Smarties, Starburst Fruit Chews or Nerds can last considerably longer due to their consistency.     Provided by: CandyFavorites.com
Candy Corn       3 - 9 months     If the packaging has been opened, candy corn should be stored under the same conditions as soft candies and will last approximately three to six months. Unopened, fresh packages will last about 9 months.
Caramel            6 - 9 months     Should be kept covered, away from heat and light at room temperature. Stored properly should last six to nine months, even up to 12 months in some cases.
Chocolate – Dark      1 - 2 years     Dark chocolate can be kept for 1 to 2 years if wrapped in foil and stored in a cool, dark and dry place. A pantry or basement is an ideal location.
 Chocolate – Milk             8 - 10 months
Chocolate – White          8 - 10 months
Crème Savers       9 months        Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Crystal Craze        9 months        Provided by: The Wrigley Co.
Delites                    13 months        Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Dentyne Ice Gum   18 months    Provided by: Cadbury 
Schweppes Doublemint Gum  10 mos.   Provided by: The                                                                                                       Wrigley Co.
Eclipse Flash Breath Strips  12 mos.   Provided by: The                                                                                                           Wrigley Co.
Eclipse Gum          12 months         Provided by: The Wrigley Co.
Extra                        9 months          Provided by: The Wrigley Co.
Freedent Gum     10 months         Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Ghirardelli Chocolate                Most Ghirardelli products have two codes printed on them. The first code, a five- or six-digit sequence, represents the product's lot code. The second code, a six-digit sequence, is the best-before date written as MMDDYY. To determine the best-before date, just read the second code.                                         Provided by: Ghirardelli
Godiva Chocolates     Godiva Chocolates will stay fresh tasting at room temperature for up to 2-3 weeks, as long as they are kept away from heat and humidity. Specifically, the temperature should not exceed 70 degrees (F) and the relative humidity should remain below 60%. Avoid direct sunlight.           Provided by: Godiva
Gum            6 - 9 months            As long as the packaging remains sealed, most gum products have a shelf-life of six to nine months. To maximize product freshness, keep chewing gum packages in a cool, dry place and out of any direct sunlight.
Gummi Candy    6 months       Most gummi candies such as gummi bears, peachy penguins, strawberry puffs, etc are good for up to (six) months although they will diminish in quality if exposed high temperatures. Provided by: Buddy Bears Gummi Bears
Gummi Savers   9 months       Provided by: The Wrigley Co.
Hard Candy       1 year               Hard candies can last up to a year when stored at room temperature or in a cool, dry location.
Hubba Bubba Bubble Tape  6 - 12 months  Provided by: The                                                                                                    Wrigley Co.
Jellied Candies   6 - 12 months    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.
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans  8 months  Provided by: Jelly Belly                                                                                              Candy Company
Jordan Almonds (Confetti)  5 months     Although the shelf life is said to be up to five (5) months, we suggest that you do not hold them for longer than two (2) to three (3) months to ensure that they are absolutely fresh.
Provided by: CandyFavorites.com Company

Juicy Fruit Grapermelon  12 mos.   Provided by: The                                                                                                                Wrigley Co.
Juicy Fruit Gum     10 months      Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Juicy Fruit Strappleberry  12 mos.  Provided by: The Wrigley                                                                                                                    Co.
Lifesavers              12 months         Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Lifesavers Bag       9 months         Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Jolly Rancher Gummies   9 mos. Provided by: The Hershey Co.
Kit Kat Bites      9 months              Provided by: The Hershey Co.
Kit Kat Wafer Bar   12 months     Provided by: The Hershey Co.
Lollipops             6 - 12 months    Hard candies can last up to a year when stored at room temperature or in a cool, dry location.
M&M's              13 months         According to the manufacturer, the life span of M&M's is up to thirteen (13) months providing that it remains in its factory sealed package and not exposed to heat. Although M&M's are durable, like any chocolate product, they will melt if exposed to high temperatures. Provided by: Mars, Incorporated
Milk Duds              9 mos.         Provided by: The Hershey Co. Mr. Goodbar Bites    9 mos.   Provided by: The Hershey Co.
Novelty Candy      6 - 8 months     Most novelties candies are nothing more than candy such as bubble gum or dextrose encased in a plastic outer shell. The life span of most novelty candies is six to eight months and depends on the type of candy chosen. Provided by: CandyFavorites.com
Orbit Gum             9 months          Provided by: The Wrigley Co.
Orbit White Gum   10 months      Provided by: The Wrigley Co.
Ouch                      9 - 12 months    Provided by: The Wrigley Co.
Reese's Bites           11 months       Provided by: The Hershey Co.
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups  6 mos.  
                                                            Provided by: The Hershey Co.
Reese's Pieces           12 mos.         Provided by: The Hershey Co.
Russell Stover Candies    All products contain a "Best Before" date. It can be found at either the end of the box (on the clear wrap) or in a "Best Before" panel. In the "Best Before" date, the first three letters show the month and the two digits show the year. Put the two together to see by when your candy should be purchased and consumed. Provided by: Russell Stover Candies
Twizzlers Cherry Bites    7 mos.   Provided by: The Hershey Co.
Twizzlers Strawberry Twists 7 mos. Provided by: The Hershey                                                                                                               Co.
Unwrapped Bulk Candy 5 - 6 months     Most unwrapped bulk candies remains fresh for five (5) to six (6) months, however, certain items such as Candy Roll Wafers, Runts, Rock Candy Strings and Candy Blocks will last longer due to their consistency. Candies such as Good & Plenty, Licorice, Mexican Hats or Red Dollars tend to taste better when fresh and we suggest that you store them for no longer than two (2) months. Chocolate candies such as Bridge Mix, Chocolate Pretzels, Double Dipped Chocolate Peanuts or Malted Milk Balls tend to have a shorter shelf life and this applies to any candy that has peanuts as one of the ingredients. Provided by: CandyFavorites.com


Whoppers Malted Milk Balls 9 mos.    Provided by: The                                                                                                           Hershey Co.
Winterfresh Gum      10 mos.     Provided by: The Wrigley Co. 
Wrapped Bulk Candy  5 - 6 months     Most wrapped bulk candy remains fresh for five (5) to six (six) months especially if it is a hard candy such as a Butterscotch Disk, Starlight Mint or Root Beer Barrel. Softer candies such as Caramel Creams or Brach's Royals have a shorter shelf life due to their consistency. Certain candies such as Anise Squares, Brach's Ice Blue Mints, Jolly Ranchers or Sour Balls have a much longer shelf life and are ideal for long term use. 
Provided by: CandyFavorites.com

Wrigley's Spearmint Gum  10 mos.  Provided by: The Wrigley                                                                                                               Co.
York Bites               9 months         Provided by: The Hershey Co. 

The content on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For manufactured products, always follow manufacturer's recommendations and directions.