FYI
Be aware when shopping in small neighborhood stores. Some of the packaged food items may have been on the shelves for a very long time.
I purchased a chocolate candy bar the other day and it was stale. It was dried out and very hard to bite.
I hate when that happens.
But maybe it wasn't on the shelf a very long time. Maybe that particular bar had fallen under the shelf a very long time ago and was found by an employee that put it back on the shelf with all its friends the day before you bought it.
Update
I went and searched my trash and found the candy bar wrapper. Faintly printed on the seam was the "Best by" date of 4-15-22. This candy bar was 1 and 1/2 years past the Best By date.
Look for Sell By and Use By dates on all food items you are about to purchase.