Recently, we’ve received questions about the new best-before date information for Halenda’s fundraising Pepperoni Stix. Here, we want to clear it up for you.

Halenda’s Pepperoni Stix are shelf-stable. While they do not require refrigeration, they should be kept cool and out of direct sunlight.

Pepperoni Stix Storage

The storage conditions under which you keep your Pepperoni Stix and the length of time you store them can affect their quality and appearance. Most fundraisers take about 2-3 weeks to complete. The people who buy  pepperoni sticks from you consume them quickly.

What’s in your closet, purse or gym bag?

One of the most common causes of issues with quality or appearance happens when people store Pepperoni Stix for extended periods.

Example: Pepperoni Stix are put in a closet over the summer in poor conditions and remain there for several months. During this time, they get moved, misplaced or forgotten. The best before date passes, or there are other quality concerns.

Because long term storage (up to a year) contributes to quality or appearance issues, we advise that it’s best to complete your fundraiser and consume the product within six months. Accordingly, we have made a change to our “best before” statement. We have not made any changes to the product.

(Really, what’s at the bottom of your purse?)

“Best-before” date vs. Expiration date

According to The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA),

The best-before date indicates that if the product has been properly handled (stored under conditions appropriate to that product), the unopened product should be of high quality until the specified date. Best-before dates do not guarantee product safety. However, they do give you information about the freshness and potential shelf-life of the unopened foods you are buying.

An expiration date is not the same as a best-before date. Expiration dates tell consumers the last day a product is safe to consume.

After the expiration date, the food may not have the same nutrient content declared as on the label. Food should not be bought, sold or eaten if the expiration date has passed. It should be discarded.

(CFIA)

With Halenda’s you wont have to worry about having too much pepperoni to sell because, unlike other fundraisers, there is no minimum order.

We hope this helps. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.