Sunday, October 16, 2005

My milk keeps going bad before its time

Is it me, or does milk go bad faster these days? As I always have a hard time finishing the half-gallon of milk that I buy in any kind of rapid fashion, I tend to base my milk purchases on which half-gallon has the latest "best by" date.

About a year or so ago, milk prices really took a jump. And then the only time you could get cheap milk was when it was nearly expired and it was on sale. For example, one day they had gallons of milk on sale for like a dollar or so, but then when you checked the date, it was like two days away. So basically if you could drink it that day, it was worth it, otherwise no. Lots of milk had a short time to expiration, and it was hard for me to even convince myself it was worth buying it.

Then over time, the expiration dates seemed to get further away. The funny thing is that the last couple half-gallons that I've purchased, have gone bad well before the expiration date. Is the date just for milk that hasn't been opened yet? I threw out just under a quarter gallon the other day because it clearly was going bad, even though it was still a week to go til the expiration date.

Anyway, I sure hope that its just been a fluke and that the integrity of the "best by" date has not been damaged.

8 comments:

Em said...

I also have a problem with milk expiring before I can drink it. I once lived with a roommate that would not touch milk and other milk-based products after the expiration date. I picked up that habit from her and cannot get near milk if it is close to the date on the jug. So, if you're right that the integrity of the date has been compromised I am really in trouble. And is it an expiration date or a sell-by date on the milk? Because if it's a sell-by date then it should be good after it expires and you shouldn't be tossing insanely expensive 1/2 half gallons of milk away! They should be able to go the distance.

j said...

I actually never throw out milk unless it is well past the date, OR I can tell that its gone bad. The milk I just threw out that was a week before the date was starting to go sour, I could tell by the taste. So its not like I'm afraid to try it, just that it goes bad and I can tell thats its gone bad.

Anonymous said...

I can't figure out why my milk is going bad 5 days before the sell by date what the heck is going on it never leaves the fridge until i pour it then it goes right back in but i am stumped and tired of throwing away milk. i first thought it was getting too cold in my fridge does anyone know if that could cause it?

Unknown said...

My milk has been doing the same thing since I moved north. In Oklahoma, the only milk I had that didn't go bad before its date was from Braum's, and I can't get that up here.

Anonymous said...

I find that if I drink my milk from the jug it seems to go sour much sooner. Usually before the date. When I put my fridge on its coldest setting and don't drink from the jug. It last a couple weeks longer.

AlyssaStar said...

I have been having the same issue. I buy it and it lasts me three days which tends to be five days before the expiration date. I used to love Safeway milk but kept having the same problems and everywhere else in town has been having the same issue. This has been going on since the beginning of this year 2010. Off and on for years before that. I have been refraining from buying gallons or half gallons of milk. I have a toddler and he needs milk. I am getting frustrated that I can't buy milk and when I do buy it it has had to be individual servings of it. Milk is one of my favorite foods too :(( I have tried adjusting my temperature in the fridge with no luck no matter which direction I change it. I hope that it is not the milk industry compromising the quality of their product and that this resolves itself soon.

Anonymous said...

I bought milk from a gas station and it lasted much longer than the milk I bought at safeway. I don't really drink milk and just get it for cereal. I only buy a quart at a time, but it still adds up. also, the milk from the gas station was 2% and the milk from safeway was fat free. same fridge, same location in the fridge. I should still have 3 more days until the date on the carton but the milk is actually bitter and smells funny. :( this always seems to happen with safeway milk!

Anonymous said...

It's ten years later, and I've been having the same experience with Safeway "O" Organics brand. I go through quite a bit of the stuff, but it *always* turns a couple of days before the expiration date. That's not OK, considering the stuff is $6 per gallon. So I've parlayed their failure to correct the situation into perpetually free milk. I just bring the stinking remains back to the store and they will exchange it for a new gallon. You're welcome.