How long do M&M's stay fresh if the packages are not opened? I have some from 2-3 years ago. Are they safe? I also have some packages from 2001 that have cracked shells and dull appearance but the packages have never been opened? Any ideas?

According to the manufacturer, the life span of M&M's ® is up to thirteen (13) months providing that it remains in it's factory sealed package and not exposed to heat.

You may open them. you may consume them. then you may head to the nearest emergency room.

If its outdated, then throw it away. i am no doctor, but i can't help believe that you would have nothing, but the superman diarreha from its consumption. the chocolate may look fine, but the inside may have bacteria.

Its your mouth, its your stomach, and its your rear end.

Feel lucky?

until the sell by date i would have thought.. U must really like M & M's!

I just called the Mars company. They guarantee that their products, opened or sealed, will last only 12 months, no longer. To know when the product was produced, here's how to deciper the code that is in a white rectangular box on the bottom right of the package at the back. I'm not sure how the individual bags are coded but the one I am referring to is the 56 oz bag. The first number is the year the bag was produced. So for 0, that would be 2010. For 1, it would be 2011. The 2nd and 3rd numbers are the week of the year. So for 25, it would be the 25th week of the year. That's around the last week of June. A code instance - 025ETCLV19. This bag would have been created during the last week of June, 2010. The rest of the code is for internal purposes only.

Always better to be safe than sorry. Other than that, enjoy your chocolate!!