Shelf life
Shelf-life studies that show how long your candy keeps
A shelf-life study tells you how long your candy keeps and what limits it: moisture, texture, bloom or flavor. I design the study, decide what to measure and help you read the results.
- Free 30-minute call
- $149/hour
- Replies within 2 business days
Shelf life
What I help with
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Study design
Conditions, time points and sample counts that answer your question.
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What to measure
Moisture, water activity, texture and appearance, chosen for your candy.
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Accelerated studies
Faster answers from warmer storage, and their limits.
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Reading the results
What the data says about your date and your packaging.
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Packaging
How the wrapper or bag affects moisture and texture over time.
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Fixing what fails
Formula and process changes when a study shows a problem.
Note
I don’t have my own lab, so studies are designed around your facility or an outside lab.
How it works
Four steps, starting with a free call
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Step 1: Send the form
Your name, email, company and what you make.
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Step 2: I reply within 2 business days
With a few questions and some times to talk.
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Step 3: A free 30-minute call
What you’re making and where it’s stuck.
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Step 4: An hours estimate, then the work
Once we agree on terms, we sign an NDA before you share formulas.
Background
Relevant experience
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Lindt & Sprüngli
Led sensory projects on accelerated shelf-life studies and on predicting where bloom comes from.
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Kerry
Designed experiments on stability, texture and shelf life in candy formats.
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UW-Madison
Master’s research on crystallization in starch jellies, with the data analyzed in JMP and R.
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Conagra Brands
Designed and executed shelf-life studies on all new product launches.
Questions
How long does a candy shelf-life study take?
A real-time study runs as long as the shelf life you want to claim. An accelerated study at warmer conditions gives an earlier read, which the real-time study then confirms.
Do you run the tests?
No. I don’t have my own lab. I design the study, your team or an outside lab runs it, and I help you read the results.
What limits shelf life in candy?
Most often moisture: candy picks up or loses water, and its texture changes. Fat bloom, crystallization, flavor loss and stickiness are other common limits, depending on the candy.
