how fresh is 'doorstep milk'?

touch*my*food*feel*myfork

tandraig wrote: »

I just got out magnifying glass - use by is 17th Jan... its the 12th, so last saturday was 9th.
hmmm I dont buy from supermarkets so is this about normal ?

yes, milk from the supermarket usually has a week or more date on it.

Gigervamp

Our milkman comes late at night-around midnight/1 am. He's managed to get through the snow and deliver when the lanes (we're in the countryside) were icy and dangerous. What a star!

He was working for Dairy Farmers of Britain, but when they went into administration, he took over the round.

The only problem we've had is if nobody has gone down to get the milk first thing, (we have a long drive) we sometimes find that the lids have been pecked open by birds or squirrels.

Supermarket milk is cheaper, but I like the convenience of having a doorstep delivery, as well as glass bottles, so there is less waste going into the bin. I also like being able to support a small local business.

taplady

Gingervamp - why not try leaving a box out for the milk? lots of country customers do this to protect their milk from animals. Am glad you have no probs with your delivery:T

My DH usually starts work at about 2am:eek::D

lil_me

I get milk delivered, yes it's more expensive but I know I will have it. Local shops have had no milk when I have been in for the last week or so. I got a few extra too without any problems, text him rather than leaving notes as we used to do. With 3 who love their milk, it's been a god send as it's saved any worry. I would have preferred it to stay a daily delivery but I don't think any deliver daily now. If anything mine comes earlier, when bad weather is forecast through the night. He dropped off about 10 or 11pm one day last week, I haddn't realised and by 11am when I surfaced it was frozen

Counting_Pennies_2

I gave up my milkman when all the whole milk he delivered went off.

He delivered at midday, so in the summer it has been boiled in the sun.

I was weaning my son off his formula and on to whole milk and needed to know it was fresh.

So I am not ashamed to say I buy from the supermarket.

If the milkman wants to continue he needs to ensure it is delivered fresh. I think they need to look at the refridgeration on their open vehicles, you can't possibly say this is the right way to deliver something that needs to stay cool.

Alison_Funnell

I always used a milkman till we kept getting no delivery. The dairy said they were delivering but that it must be being stolen ( live in town but have a front garden) so one night I waited up - yes an extreme move but we were being charged for a lot of milk we weren't receiving. Anyway the short of it was the milkie was a bad one who was not delivering about half the milk and selling it on.

So I am now considering a milkie again after about 13yrs but am a little cautious.

esmf73

If birds are getting your milk from the top of the bottles, leave used (cleaned) yogurt pots out for your milkman to put over the top of the bottles - then the birds can't get them.

We had a milkman and he was great, then someone new must have taken over the round as we kept getting too many mistakes, so milk would go off or we'd run out - I gave him many chances but eventually cancelled it.

Shame really

Seakay

If you have a doorstep or a small front area or garden then it is possible to install a box which the milkman can put milk into and then lock - can be a very simple catch and padlock affair. This prevents theft (and naughty milkman!) as you retain the only key. If you're worried about sun then lining the box with polystyrene will provide some insulation.
My friend's dad did this for her - I think that he drilled through the box into the wall of the house so that it wasn't going anywhere!

lil_me

My milkman before here (where it was stolen by school kids on a morning) used to put it under an upside down box in the garden, behind the bin, it was always there upside down so they knew no different worked well. It was white so stayed cooler too.

Chipps

Our milkman is great - I think he turns up about 5am! Anyway, milk is normally there by 6.30 when we are up & about.
There is something about milk in glass bottles - I think it keeps it nicer than plastic anyway. And milk hasn't always had dates on it - you can always check with your nose!!!! I know sometimes with supermarket milk that has dates on it can smell yucky even when its in date - and as I don't make scones much any more it has to go. I really don't like the smell of sour milk.

(if you're wondering, slightly sour milk makes lighter scones apparently)