How to Read Wilton Manufacturing Dates - Our Baking Blog: Cake, Cookie & Dessert Recipes by Wilton (2024)

Posted by Erika | Oct 8, 2021

Like most food products, Wilton Candy Melts candy, icing, fondant, and sprinkles all have a best-buy or manufacturing dates; however, it takes a little code-breaking to decipher it! Here’s our helpful guide on how to read Wilton manufacuring dates.

Though Wilton Candy Melts candy, fondant, sprinkles, and meringue powder all have a long shelf life, they don’t last forever. Like most food products, our candies and edible decorations are stamped with a best-buy or manufacturing date so you can use them at their freshest. However, this date uses the Julian date code rather than traditional calendar dates.

What is the Julian Date Code?

The Julian date code is a 5-digit number stamped onto the packaging of your food. The first two numbers represent the year of manufacture. Download the Julian Date Calendar for reference. For example:

  • 21114 is 2021
  • 20294 is 2020
  • 19221 is 2019

The last three numbers represent the day (out of 365) that the food was manufactured. Remember, day #1 is January 1; day #365 is December 31st. So, for the examples above, the 114th day of 2021 was April 24th, meaning April 24, 2021 is the manufactured date for the food item. Here are the dates for the other examples:

  • 21114 is April 24th
  • 20294 is October 20th
  • 19221 is August 9th

Here are some benchmark numbers for better deciphering the Julian date on your package:

  • 001 (1st day of the year) – January 1st
  • 050 (50th day of the year) – February 19th
  • 100 (100th day of the year) – April 10th
  • 150 (150th day of the year) – May 30th
  • 200 (200th day of the year) – July 19th
  • 250 (250th day of the year) – September 7th
  • 300 (300th day of the year) – October 27th
  • 350 (350th day of the year) – December 16th
  • 365 (365th day of the year) – December 31st

No matter what day of the week the new year starts on, January 1st will always be the first day of the year, so these benchmark numbers apply to all calendar years.

Can I Still Eat Items that Have Past Their Freshness Date?

If the food items you have are past their best-buy date, they are not harmful if consumed. However, they may not perform or taste as a fresh batch would.

Here are some common freshness dates for popular Wilton products:

Food ProductFreshness Range
Candy Melts candyWithin 18 months of coded date
Icing colorsWithin 36 months of coded date
FondantWithin 18 months of coded date
Color Right food coloringWithin 48 months of coded date
SprinklesWithin 36 months of coded date
Decorator Icing/FrostingWithin 12 months of coded date
Meringue PowderWithin 24 months of coded date
Gingerbread and Cookie KitsWithin 12 months of coded date

And that’s all there is to it! Now you can enjoy Wilton Candy Melts, icing colors, fondant, sprinkles and more at their freshest!

How to Read Wilton Manufacturing Dates - Our Baking Blog: Cake, Cookie & Dessert Recipes by Wilton (2024)

FAQs

How do you read the expiration date on Wilton icing? ›

A: From Wilton site: The icing has a suggested freshness range of 24 months from the Julian Date Code stamped on the bottom. For example: 19114, the first two numbers are the year (2019), and the last three numbers (114) are the day of the year out of 365, which is April 24. Helpful?

Does Wilton cookie icing expire? ›

Wilton, who make the cans of "Ready to Decorate Icing" tells me that their cans never actually expire, but for best quality should be used within 24 months of the code printed on the bottom of the can.

How do you read the expiration date on Wilton candy melts? ›

The numbers for March are days 60-90, with 60 being March 1st and 90, March 31st. Day 071 turns out to be March 12. This bag of candy was made on March 12, 2014. Unopened bags of Wilton candy melts are freshest 18 months from the date they are made, which means this bag is good until September 2015.

How long do Wilton candy melts last unopened? ›

Do Candy Melts Expire? Though they will last a while if stored properly, Candy Melts are best used within 18 months of the date they were made. Each package contains a stamped series of numbers and letters to help mark the date they were packaged.

How do you read a Wilton date code? ›

The last three numbers represent the day (out of 365) that the food was manufactured. Remember, day #1 is January 1; day #365 is December 31st. So, for the examples above, the 114th day of 2021 was April 24th, meaning April 24, 2021 is the manufactured date for the food item.

How do I decode an expiration date? ›

Read these codes as MMDDYY, where “MM” refers to the month, “DD” refers to the date, and “YY” refers to the year. This is one of the more common codes that you'll see on food items. For example, “121518” would be read as December 15, 2018.

Do cookies expire on the expiration date? ›

Cookies can expire. A cookie with no expiration date specified will expire when the browser is closed. These are often called session cookies because they are removed after the browser session ends (when the browser is closed). Cookies with an expiration date in the past will be removed from the browser.

Do cookie decorations expire? ›

A.: Colored sugar, sprinkles and other similar cookie decorations have an indefinite shelf life, as they are made of pure sugar for the most part. Sugar does not support bacterial growth, so it rarely goes bad.

Where is the expiration date on Cake Mate icing? ›

"It's only sugar with some binding agents and dye, so there's no expiration date, but like all icing after it's opened, it will eventually dry out and harden." see less That's a good question! I checked my package carefully and there is no expiry date on it. You do have to refrigerate the product after opening.

Where is the date on Wilton candy melts? ›

Wilton Candy Melts are freshest if used within 18 months of their manufacture date. There is a stamped manufacture date code on the product packaging that is five digits – for example 17114.

How do I read a batch number expiry date? ›

The year of manufacture is represented by the first two digits of the batch number. The third and fourth digits of the number refer to the month of production. The fifth and sixth figures identify the day it was manufactured. The following four digits represent the plant number.

What is a package date code? ›

This is the date the product was packaged. Pack date is generally not intended for consumers but rather is used by manufacturers and retailers to track inventory, rotate items and locate items in case of recall. Sometimes it is written in code, as in the second example above.

How do you read the expiration date on chocolates? ›

You'll normally see a box, either black or white, clearly labelled as 'best before'. Within that you will see a printed date. Most best before dates specify an exact day, though sometimes they will just specify a month and year.

Does it matter if sprinkles are out of date? ›

Libbie's answer was a resounding YES. "It's funny, most people are led to believe that they don't as they are made of sugar, and sugar typically doesn't spoil," Summers says, "but sprinkles have other colorants and additives that can cause spoilage."

How do you read manufacture date codes? ›

To Determine Manufacture Date Based on Serial Number: The 1st three numbers of your serial number will always provide your manufacture date. The 1st number is the YEAR of manufacture; the 2nd & 3rd numbers indicate the MONTH of manufacture.

What is the date code? ›

Date code / lot number is the number to identify when the component is being manufactured. It is for the factories production quality control and tracing purposes.

How do you read electronic date codes? ›

The date code format shall be a four-digit number. The first two digits being the last two digits of the calendar year and the last two digits being the week of the year. This is considered the YYWW format. The first week of the year shall be considered the first week in which the first Thursday of the year falls.

How can I determine and display the expiration or end date? ›

We can use the EDATE function to calculate expiration dates by months. EDATE returns the same date and months ahead or before. This will show the expiration dates in column C.

How do you read Julian date codes? ›

The first two digits are the last numbers of the year and the three digits after the hyphen are the day of that year. So, for instance, a Julian date of 21-001 represents the first day of the year 2021, or January 1, 2021, while a Julian date of 22-165 represents the 165th day of the year 2022 or June 14, 2022.

How do you find the expiry date of a product? ›

Find the Use By/Expiration Date. Look for this on the side of the label or on the carton.

How can you see when a cookie expires? ›

You can extend the life of a cookie beyond the current browser session by setting an expiration date and saving the expiry date within the cookie. This can be done by setting the 'expires' attribute to a date and time.

What is cookie expiration date? ›

A temporary cookie expires when a web browser session ends – usually, this happens when the browser program is closed down. This is a session cookie. The cookie's data is not stored on your computer permanently. The data in a persistent cookie is stored on your computer for a specified time period.

Do unopened cookies expire? ›

Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months. Moist bars, such as cheesecake and lemon bars, can be refrigerated for seven days.

Which cookies has not expire time? ›

Persistent Cookies. If a cookie does not contain an expiration date, it is considered a session cookie. Here's how you can check which cookies are Session vs.

What is the expiry date of cake? ›

Typically, a cake will only stay fresh for up to three or four days before the moisture is drawn out and the texture becomes drier. A cake can last in a fridge for a little bit longer if it has been frosted as the frosting keeps the moisture in the sponge.

How do you tell if a cake is out of date? ›

Some common traits are a hard and dry texture as the moisture evaporates. Sometimes mold can appear, so always be on the lookout for that. Fruit fillings may also become moldy or slimy which indicate that the cake has gone bad.

Is unopened expired frosting still good? ›

Yes, provided it is properly stored and the can is undamaged - commercially packaged canned frosting will typically carry a "Best By," "Best if Used By," "Best Before", or "Best When Used By" date but this is not a safety date, it is the manufacturer's estimate of how long the canned frosting will remain at peak ...

Can you still eat something after its sell by date? ›

Many fresh or prepared foods are labeled with a “Sell-By” date as a guide for how long the item should be displayed for sale before quality deteriorates. Items are generally safe for consumption after this date, but may begin to lose flavor or eye appeal.

Did Wilton go out of business? ›

Acquired by TowerBrook in 2009, Wilton Brands manufacturers and distributes ingredients, bakeware, and decorating equipment for consumers in the US market. The company and its employees will remain headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, and will operate as an independent unit within Dr Oetker's portfolio of brands.

How do I find the manufacture date of a lot number? ›

How to Read Lot Numbers
  1. The first two digits (18) is the year of manufacture (2018)
  2. The next two digits (02) is the month of manufacture (February)
  3. The next two digits (20) is the day of the month of manufacture (20th)
  4. The next digit (6) is our inter-company plant number.
19 Feb 2018

Is manufacturing date same as expiration date? ›

The Expiration date (exp) printed on the label is the last date a product should be ingested. With proper storage, the product will remain fully potent until this date. The Manufacturing date (mfg) printed on the label is the date the product was produced in compliance with Good Manufacturing (GMP) regulations.

How do you read a 5 digit lot number? ›

For the numbers, the first number third digit of the year the product was made. The next 2 numbers represent the day of the month the product was made. The next number represents the last digit of the year the product was made. The next two digits represent month the earliest expiring component expires.

Can you scan a barcode to see expiration date? ›

BEEP allows you to track expiration dates ubiquitously from your mobile phone. Your time and efforts are precious. Using BEEP, simply scan the barcodes and register expiration dates. BEEP will track it for you.

What does date code look like? ›

These codes have two letters and four digits. The letters are the factor location. The first and third numbers are the week of the year it was manufactured, and the second and fourth numbers are the year. A code MM3048 from this era would show a bag made on the 34th week of 2008.

What is the manufacturing date? ›

A manufacture date (MFG) indicates the date a product was produced. General stability information on the ingredients may be available, however there is not data specific to the formula, after the ingredients have been combined.

What information can be found on a date code label? ›

Best before & use by dates

Food labels have date marks to inform us about their shelf life. The marks tell how long food can be kept before it begins to deteriorate. All food with a shelf life of less than 2 years must be date-marked. A 'use by' date means the food must be eaten or thrown away by the date.

Can you eat chocolate 3 years out of date? ›

Dark chocolate, with its higher cacao content, can be good to eat for as long as three years past the best before. Due to their high milk contents, milk and white chocolates might not last as long as dark, but their longevity is still nothing to sniff at — you can expect to get another 8 months or so out of it.

Can you eat chocolate 1 year out of date? ›

As bacteria can't live in chocolate, chocolates don't have a use by date. Even if a bloom does appear, or your chocolate has a peculiar smell to it, it will still be safe to consume.

Can you eat 1 year expired chocolate? ›

Chocolate never truly “expires,” so nothing will happen if you eat it past the expiration date. As long as it's stored properly and not exhibiting any other signs of spoilage, most chocolate will remain edible and yummy up to two or three years past the listed date.

When should you throw out sprinkles? ›

The good news is that an open jar of sprinkles, when stored in a cool, dry place can last up to a year, Summers says. An unopened jar of sprinkles will stay fresh for as long as three years.

Does sugar expire? ›

"Technically sugar never spoils," explain food safety experts from the US Department of Agriculture's Food Service and Inspection Service, though they do add, "for best quality it is recommended to use within two years of opening."

How can you tell when sprinkles are old? ›

Those sprinkles aren't necessarily bad, but their taste might be compromised. Next up, there's the change of smell. If they smell like plastic or “play-dough” ([SWE]), it's time for them to go. If there's a hint of a rancid smell, it's up to you.

How long is Wilton decorating icing good for? ›

For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored for 2 weeks.

How long does Wilton Buttercream Icing last? ›

How long will buttercream icing last? Does it need to be refrigerated? Buttercream icing can be refrigerated in an airtight container for two weeks.

Where is the expiration date on Wilton candy melts? ›

Wilton Candy Melts are freshest if used within 18 months of their manufacture date. There is a stamped manufacture date code on the product packaging that is five digits – for example 17114.

Does unopened fondant expire? ›

Most fondants have a shelf life of 22 - 24 months. I will always prefer to use my fondant as freshly as possible, within the first 6 months of purchasing. But, sometimes I won't have a project that requires a specific color I've purchased. In this case, I will leave the fondant unopened and in a cool, dry place.

Does Wilton decorating icing need to be refrigerated? ›

Does it need to be refrigerated? Unopened cookie icing does not need to be refrigerated. Treats iced with cookie icing can also be kept at room temperature.

What is the difference between icing and frosting? ›

Icing is thinner than frosting but not quite as thin as a glaze. Typically made with powdered sugar and liquid, such as water, milk, or juice, icing can be drizzled or spread. Icing has more shine and a smoother consistency than frosting.

How long is cookie decorating icing good for? ›

Store opened frosting containers in the fridge for up to two weeks. Cookies decorated with store-bought frosting should not be stacked or packaged in treat bags, as this frosting does not dry hard.

Do sprinkles expire? ›

The good news is that an open jar of sprinkles, when stored in a cool, dry place can last up to a year, Summers says. An unopened jar of sprinkles will stay fresh for as long as three years.

Does frosting need to be refrigerated? ›

Yes, you have to refrigerate frosting after opening it if you're not going to use it in the next two hours. Frosting types, like buttercream, can only be left at room temperature for about three hours before it melts. Putting the frosting in the fridge adds shelf life and helps maintain its quality and consistency.

How long is dry cookie mix good after expiration date? ›

Up to two weeks past the best by date in the fridge, or. Up to twelve months in the freezer.

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