How Long Does Halloween Candy Last? Food Safety Experts Reveal the Answer

That stash of fun-size bars and lollipops may have a lot more life in it than most people assume. Food scientists say the real enemy of candy isn't bacteria, but time, air, and heat.

Halloween is just days away, and many young trick-or-treaters are already planning to indulge in their favorite sweet treats. More often than not, there's more than enough to go around for one night, so it's only natural to wonder how long the leftovers can stay in the pantry.

The answer may be longer than expected, according to Virginia Tech consumer food safety expert Joell Eifert. "Consumers often have the misconception that the best by date on food packaging equates to food safety," Eifert said.

She continued, "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."

Most candies stay good for six months to a year when stored at room temperature. Alexis Hamilton, an assistant professor of food safety at Virginia Tech, said it's easy to tell when candy has passed its prime: if it smells or looks odd, toss it.

"For most of them, they can last anywhere from six months to a year, so if you find a rogue piece of candy under their bed in two months, no need to panic, it's still safe to eat," Hamilton said, adding that homemade goodies should be enjoyed shortly after they're made.

It's also worth noting that when candy does spoil, it's "almost always a physical (drying out) or chemical (lipid oxidation, flavor change) change and not microbial," according to Richard W. Hartel, a food science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The idea that candy goes bad on its "best by" date is just one of many misconceptions people have about when to part with their leftover sweets, Eifert noted. For instance, many people throw away chocolate once it develops a whitish coating, mistaking it for mold.

In reality, this phenomenon, known as chocolate "bloom," is completely harmless.

"If chocolate is stored in warmer temperatures, the fat can begin to separate from the cocoa," Eifert explained. "This separation is what causes the coating to form. However, bloom does not destroy the flavor of the chocolate, and it's perfectly safe to eat."

So while candy will remain safe to eat months after Halloween, there's no promise every piece will be just as tasty and fresh come next Halloween. According to Eifert, that depends on several factors.

"Candy can develop off-odors and changes in flavor, appearance and texture," she said. "Although there may be no food safety issues with the candy, you may choose not to eat it for other quality reasons."

"Shelf life of candy is a function of storage conditions, packaging, and ingredients," she added. "Some can be good for several years, but some will last only a few months."

Drawing on information from the National Confectioners Association, Eifert shared a handy guide for deciding how long each item in a candy haul should stick around:

• Chocolate: Dark chocolate lasts 1-2 years if wrapped in foil and kept somewhere cool, dark, and dry. Milk and white chocolate last no more than 8-10 months.
• Hard candy: Up to a year at room temperature or in a cool, dry spot.
• Jellied candies: 6-9 months once opened and about 12 months unopened. Store them away from heat and light.
• Candy corn: 3-6 months once opened and about 9 months unopened.
• Gum: 6-9 months while sealed. Keep it cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight.
• Caramel: 6-9 months, and sometimes up to 12, if kept covered and away from heat and light.

Still, Eifert stressed that if the storage conditions are unknown, if the candy doesn't look or smell right, or if there's any sign of mold, it's probably best to throw it out, just to be safe.