Milk going off?

frankiesowner

Not sure this is a consumer rights thing nor is it a complaint - more a discussion item.  Does anyone else think their milk purchased from supermarkets (not one specifically) is going 'off' quicker than before, even though it's kept in the fridge? Over the past few months I've had to bin a number of containers of milk which have not reached their 'best by' date and earlier than I have in the past. One wasn't even opened and had not reached it's best by date but when opened was clearly going off. I haven't changed the fridge temp nor any other aspects of handling the milk. I'm wondering if it might be down to the processors / supply chain reducing the refrigeration level they use in the supply chain? Anyway as I say just curious if others have noticed this change?

Undervalued

frankiesowner said:

Not sure this is a consumer rights thing nor is it a complaint - more a discussion item.  Does anyone else think their milk purchased from supermarkets (not one specifically) is going 'off' quicker than before, even though it's kept in the fridge? Over the past few months I've had to bin a number of containers of milk which have not reached their 'best by' date and earlier than I have in the past. One wasn't even opened and had not reached it's best by date but when opened was clearly going off. I haven't changed the fridge temp nor any other aspects of handling the milk. I'm wondering if it might be down to the processors / supply chain reducing the refrigeration level they use in the supply chain? Anyway as I say just curious if others have noticed this change?

No. Quite the opposite if I am honest!

You may not have deliberately changed the fridge temperature but do you know for certain that it is a cold as it once was? 

DullGreyGuy

If we buy the fancy milk because it's where we are at the time and cannot be bothered to go to the supermarket or cornershop then it tends to have a shorter date but gets to it fine. Stuff from Tesco/coop normally go well beyond their best before before they are off. 

I'd certainly be checking that the fridge is at the set temp or not

sheramber

Fridge not working properly or too much stuff in it so the cold air cannot circulate.

CliveOfIndia

I'm with the other posters on this one - almost without fail I find the milk is perfectly fine long after the best-before date.  Especially if it's been kept sealed.  Once in a blue moon I find it's turned, but even then it's when it's been opened and even then it's on or very close to the best-before date.  But almost always, it lasts way beyond the best-before date.

One thought occurs to me.  When you do your shopping, is it sat in the boot of a hot car for an hour or so before you get home and put it in the fridge?  I don't know for certain, but I guessing this may have an impact?

Emmia

I'd agree, our milk is normally good several days after the best before.

I'd check the temperature of your fridge 

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Undervalued

Just to add for a bit of topical fun (with no political comment)!

For at least ten days now people have been photographing the expiry date of their milk, if it is 5th of July or later, then posting it on social media with the obvious jokes about it outlasting the government! 

Time will tell if they are right but the serious point is that an almost two week lifespan for milk seems to be the norm these days.

Lettuce jokes are also available! 

Tryinghardtosave

I have to agree with the OP - I also think something has changed with the milk as mine also is not so good a few days before the date..... I too haven't changed anything - fyi - I tend to shop at Tesco. 

PHK

I find Milk seems to last much longer than it used to. 
I have a friend who takes the milk out of the fridge before making a drink or using it because she doesn't like it too cold. She does find it goes off quicker in warm weather. 

Aylesbury_Duck

I used to freeze milk but gave up a couple of years ago when it started to make it taste a little odd after defrosting, and it always went off faster than a fresh bottle.  I buy little and often now.

My bet is that your fridge isn't getting down to temperature, either because the compressor is wearing out, the seals aren't as good as they were, or your fridge is too full.

Exodi

Sorry but I'm joining the bandwagon in suggesting it's more likely to do with your fridge.

I can get up to a week extra after the use by date, yet when we dog-sat round my MIL's house a couple of months ago, I noticed her milk was off (like really off, with chunks in... not pleasant pouring that down the sink) yet was only two days past its date. It was pretty obvious to the touch that the fridge wasn't very cold (though it was an old fridge).

Fruit and veg in our fridge often last weeks and weeks. I think from memory we keep our fridge at 2.5 degrees and it's never excessively full.

May be worth chucking a thermometer in yours to check as I think it's much more likely that your fridge is under-performing than a conspiracy theory about the dairy industry reducing refrigeration levels.